Latest News in African American Art: Tavares Strachan Launches Sculpture Into Space, Urgent Call to Repair Richmond Barthé Frieze & More
Artist Tavares Strachan’s work paying tribute to a pioneering African American astronaut was launched into into space on Dec. 3. (Liftoff begins at 19:40). The following review of the past week or so presents a snapshot of the latest news in African American art and related culture: NEWS After a couple of delayed...
Theaster Gates, the Chicago-based Cross-Disciplinary Artist and Urban Visionary, Has Joined Gagosian Gallery
“A Flag for the Least of Them” (2018) by Theaster Gates CHICAGO-BASED ARTIST Theaster Gates is now represented by Gagosian gallery. Over the past decade, Gates has gained global renown for his unique social practice focused on preservation, restoration, and archiving. Constantly traveling, he has captivated the international art world with his vision for...
Latest News in African American Art: Smithsonian Acquires Arthur Jafa’s ‘Love is the Message,’ Kapwani Kiwanga Wins Sobey Art Award & More
“Love is the Message, The Message is Death” (2016) by Arthur Jafa was acquired by the Smithsonian The following review of the past week or so presents a snapshot of the latest news in African American art and related culture: NEWS A new report requested by French President Emmanuel Macron outlines proposals for...
The Studio Museum in Harlem is Sharing its Collection with America, Launching a Touring Exhibition of 100 Artworks in January 2019
“Conspicuous Fraud Series #1 (Eminence)” (2001) by Kehinde Wiley A MAJOR EXHIBITION of more than 100 artworks by a broad selection by black artists is headed to Seattle, Kalamazoo and Salt Lake City. In January, the American Federation of Arts (AFA) is launching “Black Refractions: Highlights from The Studio Museum in Harlem,” a national...
Curators Explain Why British Painter Lynette Yiadom-Boakye Won the Carnegie International’s Top Prize
“Amaranthine” (2018) by Lynette Yiadom Boakeye A SERIES OF ARRESTING PORTRAITS is on view at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. Single and double portraits are exhibited along with a painting of four black males standing together, seemingly in conversation. Lithe figures, all bare-chested wearing only dark pants, any number of narratives could...
Jeffrey C. Stewart Wins National Book Award for Biography of Alain Locke
Jeffery C. Stewart accepts National Book Award on Nov. 14 THE 2018 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTION went to Jeffrey C. Stewart for “The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke.” Stewart’s definitive biography explores the public influence and private persona of Alain Locke (1885-1954), the gay intellectual and champion of visual artists who...
Power 100: Artist Kerry James Marshall Ranked No. 2 Most Influential Person in Contemporary Art World
THE SECOND MOST POWERFUL person in the contemporary art world is Chicago painter Kerry James Marshall, according to Art Review magazine. The London-based publication issues an annual Power 100 list ranking the most influential figures in the contemporary art world. The list includes artists, curators, critics, collectors, and dealers, among others. Marshall is the top...
Sensational Rise of Artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby Now Includes ‘Mega-Gallery’ Representation With David Zwirner
DAVID ZWIRNER HAS ADDED Njideka Akunyili Crosby to its roster of more than 75 artists, including Kerry James Marshall, Stan Douglas, Chris Ofili, and the estate of Roy DeCarava. The gallery is representing Akunyili Crosby in New York and Hong Kong. She will continue to work with Victoria Miro in London and Venice. Arguably...
Artist Lauren Halsey Joined David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles
Lauren Halsey Installation at MOCA Grand Avenue, Los Angeles DAVID KORDANSKY GALLERY announced its representation of artist Lauren Halsey yesterday, describing her as “one of the most important new voices to emerge from Los Angeles.” Earlier this year, Halsey presented a site-specific installation at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), participated in...
Election 2018: Artists and Museums are Shining a Light on Democracy, Freedom, and the Importance of Voting
Trevor Paglen for For Freedoms NATIONWIDE THE ENERGY AND URGENCY surrounding the midterm elections is translating into record voter turnout. More than 31.5 million early and absentee votes have been been cast thus far. Days remain before Election Day and advanced balloting in 22 states and the District of Columbia has already exceeded total...
Latest News in African American Art: Ntozake Shange Has Died, Torkwase Dyson at Colby College, Dutch Pavilion at 2019 Venice Biennale & More
Artist Torkwase Dyson. | Photo by Gabe Souza The following review of the past week or so presents a snapshot of the latest news in African American art and related culture: NEWS Nigeria is planning a new Benin Royal Museum to display historic bronze sculptures looted from Benin by British troops in 1897...
Artist Simone Leigh Wins Guggenheim’s 2018 Hugo Boss Prize
THE 2018 HUGO BOSS PRIZE has been awarded to Simone Leigh. Best known for her ceramic works, Leigh’s practice examines black female subjectivity, black feminist discourse, and the history of labor and resistance. Her selection was announced last night at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. The Hugo Boss Prize recognizes the...
Diedrick Brackens Receives the Studio Museum in Harlem’s 2018 Wein Prize
THE STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM’S 2018 Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize has been awarded to Diedrick Brackens. The Los Angeles-based textile artist is recognized for his tapestries and innovative weaving techniques. His selection was announced by Thelma Golden at the museum’s 50th anniversary gala this evening at the Park Avenue Armory. The annual prize...
Linda Harrison Has Been Appointed Director of the Newark Museum
LINDA HARRISON IS LEAVING the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco to helm New Jersey’s largest museum. Last week, the Newark Museum named Harrison director and CEO. “I’m thrilled to join the Newark Museum family to implement a bold transformation/agenda that lock steps with the City of Newark’s revitalization of the...
Titus Kaphar, Whose Paintings Reconstruct Accepted Historic Narratives, is a 2018 MacArthur ‘Genius’ Fellow
Titus Kaphar in his New Haven, Conn., studio. YEARS BEFORE THE DEBATE about decolonizing America’s public squares where monuments pay homage to slaveholders and Confederate generals reached a fever pitch in 2017, Titus Kaphar was engaging with representation in Western art history and its overwhelming penchant for foregrounding white men while people of color...
Historic Bequest: Late Arts Patron Peggy Cooper Cafritz Gifted 650+ Works of Art to the Studio Museum in Harlem and Duke Ellington School of the Arts
THE COLLECTION OF THE STUDIO MUSEUM in Harlem has grown by 20 percent thanks to the generosity of the Peggy Cooper Cafritz (1947-2018), the late Washington, D.C. arts patron, activist and co-founder of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. The Studio Museum and Duke Ellington announced yesterday that Cafritz bequeathed the majority of...
Broadway Bound: Musical About Legendary Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in Development
JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988) is Broadway bound. A musical about the storied artist’s life is in the works, composed by Jon Batiste, the bandleader and musical director of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS. The project is produced by Alan D. Marks and Barbara Marks. Tony winner John Doyle (“The Color Purple”) has...
Latest News: Police Brutality Exhibition Remains on Pause, 1-54 African Art Fair Heads to Manhattan, Artist Warrington Colescott Has Died & More
Sept. 18: After putting her exhibition “America Monuments” on hold, artist lauren woods explains why the action is necessary. | Video by Daily 49er The following review of the past week or so presents a snapshot of the latest news in African American art and related culture: NEWS After four years in Brooklyn,...
$5.4 Million Grant to Spelman College Will Amplify Art History and Curatorial Studies at Atlanta University Center
Spelman College campus in Atlanta. A GRANT FROM THE WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION positions Spelman College to become an incubator for African American curators. The five-year, $5.4 million grant will inaugurate the Atlanta University Center Collective for the Study of Art History and Curatorial Studies. An art history major and curatorial studies minor will be...
Whitney Museum Acquired 417 Works Recently, Faith Ringgold, Derrick Adams, Toyin Ojih Odutola, and Julie Mehretu are Among the Artists Represented
“Husband and Wife” (2017) is one of three works by Toyin Ojih Odutola acquired by the Whitney Museum. FOR A YEAR, THE WHITNEY MUSUEM of American Art displayed “Hate Is a Sin Flag” a 2007 work by Faith Ringgold. It is a relatively small print, about 19 inches square, that makes a profound statement....
