Acclaimed Baltimore photographer Devin Allen has been named 2026 curator of SCOUT, the affordable art fair presented as part of Artscape, Create Baltimore announced Friday.
SCOUT at Artscape is a new cornerstone of the festival, founded in 2025 by renowned artist and Baltimorean Derrick Adams as a platform for emerging and established artists. New audiences and collectors can connect with the artists and their art through bold presentation and accessible prices.
“SCOUT Art Fair was created to amplify the creative producers in this area. The Fair is a curated space in the heart of Artscape,” Adams said in a statement. “Viewers have the opportunity to connect directly with collectors and those who are curious about art and culture can experience artwork presented on an elevated platform such as this one. Over the years I’ve witnessed tremendous growth in the production of the artist community in Baltimore and that should be shared with the world.”
Allen rose to prominence on the national stage for his photographs of the Baltimore Uprising, which made the cover of TIME magazine in May 2015. He was only the third amateur photographer that TIME had ever selected to feature on its cover. In June 2020, TIME chose one of his photos from a Black Trans Lives Matter protest to again be on its cover.
“Baltimore is a city where creativity drives both culture and economic opportunity, and Devin Allen embodies that spirit in every way,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott in a statement. “SCOUT creates real pathways for artists to generate income, build sustainable careers, and connect with new collectors. With Devin at the helm, we’re strengthening Baltimore’s position as a city where artists can thrive and where creativity fuels opportunity for all.”
Allen’s photographic art depicting Black life has been featured in New York Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Aperture. His work is also featured in permanent collections at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, the Jule Collins Smith Museum, and The Studio Museum in Harlem.
“Baltimore raised me and Artscape was part of my childhood, a place where art and community came alive,” Allen said in a statement. “Now, stepping into the role of curator for SCOUT in its second year feels like a full-circle moment. I am honored to carry on the foundation Derrick Adams created with SCOUT and to continue championing the artists who are redefining what Baltimore looks like to the world. We already know what everyone else is discovering: our region is home to some of the most extraordinary talent alive.”
As curator, Allen will emphasize storytelling, cultural pride, and the accessibility of art as a tool for connection and change. Cierra Britton will join him as assistant curator. She is Baltimore-born, New York City-based, and owner of the Cierra Britton Gallery. The curator and art dealer is a champion for emerging and established artists who challenge dominant narratives with their art.
SCOUT is an inclusive space where collectors at every level can find new-to-them artists and support them. The 2026 fair will have a diverse lineup of local, national, and international talent while remaining accessible, innovative, and focused on community.
“Devin Allen represents the very spirit of Baltimore—resilient, visionary, and deeply connected to community,” said Robyn Murphy, CEO of Create Baltimore, in a statement. “His leadership as curator seamlessly continues the work of Derrick Adams; to solidify Baltimore as a world class city for arts and culture.”
Artscape 2026 happens over Memorial Day weekend on May 23 and May 24, from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. The SCOUT Vernissage will be held on Thursday, May 21, 6–9 p.m. More details about SCOUT, participating artists, and programming will be announced in April.
