Cultural Voice

“Head #12 (floor plan)” by Derrick Adams, on view at "Black Eye," a new group show curated by Nicola Vassell.  Courtesy of Jack Tilton Gallery On View | A Group Show in TriBeCa Explores Black Identity Today Article re-posted from New York Times  5/1/2014 The curator Nicola Vassell has a blue-chip art-world pedigree as a former director at both Deitch Projects and Pace. And perhaps because her gallery work positioned her in contexts where glitz and glamour are currencies of their own, media coverage of Vassell has often focused on her taste and style — her former modeling career, her wardrobe, the social goings-on at her SoHo loft. But Vassell has lately gone independent — she left Pace in 2012 to found Concept NV, which she describes as an art ideation lab — and it’s clear she’s got more pressing social concerns on her mind. “Activism is important to me,” she says. “I find that sometimes the art world is too busy with its art-world view to consider that.” Her la...

  Concept NV is pleased to announce the visit to Jamaica of renowned New York based portrait painter Kehinde Wiley, April 22 to May 05, 2013.   This exploratory visit will facilitate preparation for ‘The World Stage: Jamaica’ , a portrait exhibition to be presented at the Stephen Friedman Gallery in London, October 2013.   Mr. Wiley’s portraits are typically based on photographs, and include heroic portraits which address the image and social recontextualization of primarily, black and brown young men in contemporary culture. Over the years his extensive ‘World Stage’ series has expanded to include models from countries such as China, India, Israel, Brazil and Senegal.   These portraits incorporate aspects of the history and culture of each country and are often a source of national pride. Jamaica will now be added to this venerable line-up. During his visit, Wiley will conduct photo sessions with people of interest whose portraits will be displayed ...