Check Out Von Childs’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Von Childs.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Von Childs (birth name Travon Bracey) is a multidisciplinary artist, creative director, and editor, born & raised in Atlanta, Georgia, whose work exists at the intersection of fashion, editorial storytelling, and cultural advocacy. He serves as Deputy Managing Editor and Internal Creative Director at ATELIER Magazine, where he leads creative direction, editorial styling, and large-scale fashion and cultural productions that center minority excellence across fashion, beauty, arts, and design.

He is also the founder of ArtREV & Co, a multidisciplinary creative agency, established in 2013, as a powerhouse for his various of work, to focus on the intellectual experience of cultural diasporas through the elements of fashion, art, business, and design. Through ArtREV & Co, Von produces fashion shows, editorials, film productions, brand campaigns, creative workshops, and mentorship initiatives designed to create access for emerging talent—especially Black and queer creatives—into professional fashion and media spaces. Alongside fashion & contemporary arts, Von has a total of over 25+ credits in the film industry, ranging from costume design and production design to directing & cinematography experience, including his acting debut on ‘Demascus’ (2023), released in late summer 2025 on Tubi.

Von began his career at just 15 years old as a young writer, and at 17 he got his formal start in media working with VOX Teen Communications, a youth-driven publishing organization that sharpened his voice in journalism and storytelling before he entered the fashion editorial world. His early foundation evolved into professional work with notable publications including Lucky Magazine, Teen Vogue, AFROPUNK, Huffington Post, Simply Elevated, Sheen, GQ, and recent notable work with ATELIER, where he refined his understanding of fashion journalism, creative direction, and visual narrative. These experiences shaped his signature approach to storytelling—luxury in aesthetic, purposeful in message.

He holds an Associate’s degree in Fashion Merchandising from Bauder College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Marketing & Management from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), grounding his creative instincts with strategic brand and marketing expertise.

In 2020, Von released his short film and performance art piece, “The Quarantine Cycle,” which went on to be featured internationally and received a Silver Medal Award at the 2021 South Africa International Short Film Festival, recognizing his work beyond editorial into visual and performance art storytelling.

His contributions to fashion media and creative leadership have earned him honors including Simply Elevated Magazine’s Best Creative Direction Award (2018) and recognition as Fashion Group International (FGI) Member of the Month (2023).

At the heart of Von’s work is advocacy. He intentionally uses his platform to champion Black women in fashion and media, ensuring their visibility, credit, and leadership within creative spaces. As a Black queer creative leader, he is committed to inspiring the next generation of Black queer artists to see themselves reflected in industries that have historically excluded them. His legacy is measured not only by the images he creates, but by the doors he opens for others.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The past several years of my life have been both profoundly challenging and deeply transformative—an intricate balance of hardship and blessing. I have long learned to treat rejection not as a deterrent, but as a catalyst. Each “no” became fuel, shaping the resilience and clarity that define who I am today. From an early age, I found myself navigating spaces far beyond what was expected of someone my age. I entered the corporate and professional world well before graduating high school, having already begun to build a name rooted in purpose, ambition, and discipline.

By the time I entered ninth grade, I possessed an unwavering awareness that leadership was not an aspiration but an inevitability. Though I made early missteps on my entrepreneurial journey, they only reinforced my desire to move differently from my peers. I deliberately chose to explore unconventional paths, guided by intuition and a commitment to my dreams rather than conformity. I accepted the reality that my youth would often be perceived as a limitation—frequently resulting in denial of opportunities—yet I understood that growth, mastery, and elevation are rarely granted without resistance.

At the age of fifteen, I was introduced to the world of mass communications through an internship with a local television network. Despite my limited experience, the network’s executive director and associate producer recognized my drive and creative hunger and entrusted me with an opportunity few my age were given. Under his mentorship, I gained a comprehensive foundation in cinematography, co-producing, scriptwriting, and digital film editing. I went on to co-produce and assist in the cinematography of multiple programs broadcast to over 90,000 county residents—an experience that not only sharpened my technical skill set but immersed me in the realities of production, media communications, and journalism.

These formative experiences opened doors to broader arenas. At sixteen, I became one of the youngest contributing writers for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, publishing work centered on social advocacy and local news. By seventeen, I was recommended by the AJC to join VOX Teen Communications, a teen-led newspaper where I expanded my voice beyond writing to include photography and visual storytelling. There, I flourished as a photojournalist and editorial contributor, gaining experience in issue coordination and facilitating community-based social initiatives. While these early accomplishments positioned me powerfully, they also ushered in a new set of challenges—particularly when I chose to pivot toward the fashion editorial world upon graduating high school.

Entering the fashion industry was both a triumph and a revelation. Inspired by the lessons and wisdom my great-grandmother instilled in me about style, intention, and self-expression, I pursued editorial and wardrobe styling with conviction. Over time, I collaborated with respected publications such as Lucky, GQ, Teen Vogue, Mr. Manuscript, and The Huffington Post, among others. Yet, despite my dedication and work ethic, I became increasingly aware of a painful reality: being a young Black man in the industry often diminished the leverage my talent deserved. I watched many of my non-Black peers advance more rapidly, even when I knew my potential exceeded the opportunities afforded to me.

After six years in editorial, I made the difficult but necessary decision to step away and reclaim authorship of my own narrative. I founded ArtREV & Co., embracing the responsibility—and risk—of entrepreneurship. This chapter introduced a new layer of complexity, as I was now balancing creative vision, business strategy, and personal well-being, all while writing my own story without a blueprint.

Over the years, I have accomplished much: becoming an award-winning creative director, producing short films and performance art, curating set designs for television and film, and leading fashion and multimedia projects. Yet the most persistent challenge has been learning to balance my personal life with the demands of a growing public and professional presence. As my visibility expands and my clientele evolves, I continue to navigate the responsibility of protecting my health, nurturing relationships, and maintaining a sense of home.

Today, I move forward with clarity and self-awareness. I understand that I am in control of my journey. No matter how complex or demanding the road becomes, I remain committed to realizing my dreams and goals with intention, integrity, and unwavering resolve.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a multidisciplinary creative director, editorial strategist, and visual storyteller working at the intersection of fashion, media, culture, and social narrative. Currently, I serve as the Managing Editor & Internal Creative Director of ATELIER Magazine, where I oversee editorial direction, visual identity, and creative execution across print and digital platforms. In this role, I shape the publication’s aesthetic language, curate cultural storytelling, and lead conceptual development for fashion editorials, features, and strategic brand collaborations.

In addition, I am the Founder & CEO of ArtREV & Co, a multidisciplinary creative agency dedicated to innovative storytelling, visual production, and brand world-building. Through ArtREV & Co, I develop and produce fashion campaigns, performance art installations, short films, set design for television and film, and strategic creative consulting for emerging and established brands. The agency was born from my desire to control narrative, expand access, and create work that is both culturally intentional and visually elevated.

My foundation began in mass communications and journalism, which informs the intellectual structure behind everything I produce. I specialize in conceptual world-building—constructing immersive visual environments that merge cultural commentary with refined aesthetics. I am known for balancing avant-garde fashion sensibilities with historical and social awareness, particularly drawing from Black cultural archives, contemporary art movements, and interdisciplinary creative practices. My work is visually striking, but always anchored in narrative depth and purpose.

What I am most proud of is not only the work itself, but the infrastructure I have built around it. From entering media at a young age to navigating editorial spaces and ultimately founding my own agency, I have consistently transformed resistance into reinvention. Becoming an award-winning creative director, producing independent films and performance art, and leading a respected fashion publication are milestones—but the greater achievement is having authored my own ecosystem within industries that often limit access.

What sets me apart is my dual capacity as both strategist and artist. I understand editorial systems, production logistics, brand positioning, and executive leadership, while also operating with the emotional intelligence and conceptual rigor of a cultural curator. I do not simply create imagery—I construct narratives, direct vision, and cultivate platforms that elevate underrepresented voices with sophistication and permanence.

Above all, my work is intentional. Every project is an opportunity to archive culture, challenge perception, and refine how stories are told.

What does success mean to you?
I define success as alignment—when purpose, integrity, and impact exist in harmony. It is not solely measured by titles, accolades, or visibility, but by the ability to live and work in a way that reflects my values while contributing meaningfully to culture. Success, to me, is the freedom to create without compromise, to lead with intention, and to remain rooted in authenticity even as growth demands evolution.

Success also means sustainability. It is the capacity to build something that endures—creatively, financially, and emotionally—without sacrificing health, relationships, or self-awareness. It is knowing when to push forward and when to pause, understanding that longevity is just as important as momentum.

On a deeper level, success is ownership of narrative. As a Black creative navigating industries that have historically restricted access, success is having agency over my voice, my vision, and my intellectual property. It is transforming obstacles into architecture and using lived experience as a source of authority rather than limitation.

Ultimately, success is measured by impact: the stories I help elevate, the spaces I create for others, and the cultural footprint left behind. If my work shifts perspective, archives truth, and opens doors wider than I found them, then I consider that success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artrevco.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sirvonchilds
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travon.braceychilds
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travonbracey
• Other: https://www.ateliermagazine.co

Image Credits
Nina Karetova, Demetrius Cromartie, Nathan Pearcy, Bentley Didier, and Von Childs