Art News & Updates

MEET THE FOUR ARTS MEN AND ENTER THE CHICAGO YOUTH ART CHALLENGE

Artists Barrett Keithley, Blake Lenoir and Dwight White and Eddie Santana ‘EDO’ White, also known as the Four Arts Men, have created Drifting En a Memory to inspire, motivate and educate young people interested in the visual arts. These Chicago based, internationally recognized artist have as their goal sharing their knowledge and expertise on building a successful art career.  

Each of the artists have experienced success in their individual careers and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Keithley is a self-taught artist whose passion for art started as a child growing up on Chicago’s South Side reading and writing poetry.  In 2020, during the height of the racial unrest following the murder of George Floyd, he co-founded the organization Paint the City with the goal to ‘heal the city through art.”  The mural project has engaged more than 60 artists and worked with numerous local businesses all with the goal of ensuring artists voices are heard as they work to uplift the city of Chicago.

Lenoir is an interdisciplinary visual artist who works in oil, acrylic and oil pastel, but began his career working in graphite and charcoal. He pulls inspiration from  the expressionist, Dada, Cubism, baroque/modern art and surrealist movements.  His  portraitures tell stories of life and take on hard conversations around mental health. “I empathize with people's struggles and depict that in my art”.

AUC ART COLLECTIVE HOSTS

ATLANTA RENAISSANCE, NOW! SYMPOSIUM

FEATURING DR. DENISE MURRELL

Dr. Denise Murell, above right was the curator of the groundbreaking exhibit Posing Modernity. Spelman College Museum of Fine Art Conversation with Qualesha Wood (right) and Kendra Jayne Patrick; Denise Murrell (center) with Clark Atlanta University Museum Staff photographed in front of CAU Museum permanent collection.rom the Harlem Renaissance. 

The AUC Art Collective for the Study of Art History + Curatorial Studies marked its fifth anniversary at Spelman College in early March with the Atlanta Renaissance, Now! Symposium. Over two days, students from Spelman, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse College convened with art professionals, artists, and program supporters. The symposium, managed by the students, featured AUC alumni discussing their career achievements, including Destinee Filmore’s (Spelman College ℅ ‘21) new role as Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Christian Bryant (Morehouse ℅ ‘21) sharing experiences from the auction floor of Sotheby's. Graduating seniors of the AUC Art Collective showcased research highlights from thesis work and projects.

Dr. Denise Murrell, curator of the Metropolitan’s The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism delivered a keynote address emphasizing the significance of HBCU art collections. A special viewing reception of Harlem Renaissance works at the Clark Atlanta University Museum, principal lenders for the Met’s exhibition, complemented Murell’s address. AUC leaders discussed the establishment of art departments and museum collections, while contemporary artist Qualeasha Wood discussed her practice and art market participation in conversation with Kendra Jayne Patrick, an art dealer, and Spelman alumni. Wood’s work is featured in Threaded, the current textile exhibition at Spelman College Museum of Fine Art featuring Bisa Butler and Gee’s Bend quilters, among others. 

GOOD FENCES: NEIGHBORING NARRATIVES 

Work by Lavett Ballard

Baltimore, MD - Galerie Myrtis proudly presents Good Fences: Neighboring Narratives of the Soul, a solo exhibition featuring renowned collage artist Lavett Ballard. The exhibit offers a survey of Ballard's career long practice of embellishing reclaimed wood fences with images taken from historical archives, along with paints, woodburning, and precious metals. These mixed media collages re-contextualize the historical socio-cultural challenges experienced by people of color.

NEW WORKS AVAILABLE FROM

CHIEF NIKE OKUNDAYE

Calabar Gallery in Brooklyn is currently offering works by Chief Nike Okundaye, known as “MAMA NIKE”, Mama Nike was born in the village of Ogidi-Ijumu in Kogi State of Nigeria. She is the owner/curator of the Nike Art Galleries at Lagos, Osogbo, Ogidi-Ijumu, and Abuja. The painter, textile artist, weaver and embroider is an award winning artists. 

Small and large pieces are available ranging from $2k to $8k. For information contact Atim Annette Oton at Calabar Gallery, info@calabargallery.com.

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