Seventeen different artists who are members of the guild will debut an exhibition called “Beyond the Mask: Storytelling in Black Art and Design” at this April’s High Point event.
According to exhibit co-curator Leyden Lewis, Guild founder Malene Barnett “presented the idea of Beyond the Mask as a way for us as black artists and designers to challenge and expand the current perception of black art, which has been limited to ceremonial West African art in luxury interior environments.”
“To us, black art is much more. We are proud of our African heritage and wanted to use the concept of the mask in the show as an opportunity to take control of our story, by expressing what blackness means in the 21st century. The process was a collaborative effort between myself, Malene, and Lisa Hunt,” Lewis told Architectural Digest.
“We reviewed the work of current BAD Guild members—fine artists, ceramicists, textile and furniture designers—to create a rhythm of diverse mediums, styles, and product categories. We discovered a common thread amongst the work, and a connection to black culture, color palettes, pattern, and form.”
You can expect to see works across the spaces of fine art, ceramics, furniture, and textiles from Cey Adams, Lani Adeoye, Malene Barnett, Dana Baugh, Freya Bramble-Carter, Sheila Bridges, Marie Burgos, Niqui Carter, Marlon Darbeau, Johanna Howard, Lisa Hunt, Júlio Leitão, Lionel Lewis, Valerie Louis, Jomo Tariku, Glenyse Thompson, and Haidya Williams in this multi-disciplinary showcase.
The opening party for the “Beyond the Mask,” installation will be held at Plant Seven on April 5 from 5-8 PM. The artist talk will be taking place on April 6 from 11 AM-12 PM. The exhibition will be on display from April 6 through September 30, 2019 in High Point, North Carolina.
Stay tuned for more of House Tipster’s exclusive coverage from this exhibition, and more of our favorite moments coming out of High Point Market Spring 2019.