One of the first exhibitions to open in New York’s Chelsea post-Covid last week was an exhibition presented by Studio 525 in partnership with ArtMatic and ART SHE SAYS to support and elevate black creatives as well as the Black Lives Matter movement. Curated by Anwarii Musa, VOICES features works by artists including Derrick Adams, Latoya Hobbs and Shaunte Gates.
“VOICES foregrounds the narratives that have encompassed Black beauty in America in the current era… the strength and luster we find in the Black body, the tenacity that our ancestors displayed when faced with the bounteous trauma of the past four previous centuries”, explains Musa, “The aim of this exhibition is to explore that same Black body voicing its experiences in the modern day era of society. The message? We are strong.”
The exhibition is open by appointment through September 8th with sales via Artsy benefitting Art Start and Black Artist Fund. In addition, there is a series of women-focused events moderated by Natasha Roberts for ART SHE SAYS, featuring Jenee-Daria Strand, Natasha Becker, Zachary Tye Richardson, Ché Morales, and Jeffrey Meris, as well as Instagram Live talks with Delphine Diallo, Latoya Hobbs, and Phyllis Stephens.
Text Lizzy Vartanian