For Terrell Tilford, the intersection of art and entertainment is about more than creativity — it’s about healing, truth-telling, and community building.
Known for his roles on “Soul Food,” “Guiding Light,” and “The Young and the Restless,” Tilford has spent years in front of the camera.
But as the founder of Band of Vices, a contemporary art gallery in Los Angeles, Tilford is equally committed to creating space for Black artists and stories to be seen and valued.
“I tell people I live at Band of Vices because for me, it’s about opening up my home, welcoming people in, and giving them a space to feel seen and valued,” Tilford said.
For Tilford, art and acting serve the same mission — telling stories that resonate and reflect real life.
“What I’ve realized over time is that art is healing — not just for the artist but for the person who experiences it,” said Tilford. “There’s a connection that happens when people see something and realize they’re not alone.”
Tilford believes the stories often told about Black life are incomplete. “So often we get the ‘hood story — everybody dies, and that’s it,” he said. “But there’s more to us. People are looking for authenticity, something that connects with them and hopefully heals them.”
Part of that authenticity, he said, comes from pushing beyond surface portrayals. “I think by glorifying a part of it and leaving it there, it doesn’t serve us,” Tilford said. “I think people are yearning for something that feels authentic, that feels like truth.”
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Tilford’s commitment to truth-telling has also shaped his acting career. “I asked to be let out of three TV shows because ultimately they didn’t fill me the way I needed them to, and I was unhappy,” he said. “So, I needed to do things that recalibrated me.”
That decision led him to focus more on Band of Vices, using the gallery as a platform for meaningful conversations and connection.
“Sometimes folks come in and start a conversation about one thing, and inevitably it goes somewhere else,” Tilford said. “And inevitably, before you know it, one or both of us could be in tears, hugging each other. Because that’s what people are yearning for.”
Tilford said his work is now focused on helping others find their voice and thrive. “My sort of allegiance now is helping people, assisting people, offering advice, coaching artists — because I want to see people win,” he said. “I want to see people thrive in what they do.”
He added that this mission is something he reflects on daily. “Every day I sit with that question: Am I doing what I’m supposed to be doing? Am I really showing up for people in the way I want to? And if not, what more can I do?”
Although Tilford has achieved professional success, he said what sustains him is compassion. “I have a big heart, and I am highly compassionate,” he said. “And so those things really just fill me, like daily — it’s like a vibration.”
Looking ahead, Tilford is working on three books he hopes will guide and inspire others. “The first one I plan to have completed within the next two months,” he said. “They really focus on other people.
The goal is to offer a kind of manuscript of enlightenment, something that inspires and provides sources for people to take their own journey as far as they need to for themselves.”
Tilford is also returning to his theater roots with a personal stage piece he plans to bring to life this year. “I’m writing something personal for myself that I will mount as a stage piece,” he said.
Part of his broader mission is creating space where Black men can be vulnerable and supported.
“We’re still showing up, watching our kids grow, doing what’s necessary to survive,” said Tilford. “But we’re also learning to talk about it more — to support each other in ways that are real and honest.”
“I think as Black men, we’re starting to do that more,” Tilford added. “We’re starting to show up for each other.”
Tilford is also carrying on the legacy of his close friend and collaborator, Peter J. Harris, who passed away before they could finish a project together. “Peter and I were working on a project, and he left me to do the heavy lifting,” Tilford said.
Building on that work, Tilford continues to grow Band of Vices’ influence and visibility.
As part of that effort, Tilford recently partnered with the Los Angeles Lakers to showcase Black artists in a broader community initiative. “There’s an initiative that I do with the Los Angeles Lakers, and it includes a breadth of artworks that represent what we’re building together,” he explained.
As Tilford moves forward, he said his focus remains on creating spaces where Black stories are told fully and truthfully.
“I believe in building something that’s there, and really thinking about the level of intentionality in those words,” Tilford said. “And we need to see ourselves fully — that’s where the healing begins.”
