UWM Union Art Gallery: In Search of A Benevolent Kind of Blue

A solo exhibition commemorating Milwaukee's Bronzeville neighborhood. The Hip-Hop Cypher on 4th and Brown Street : In the spirit of celebrating real Hip-Hop emcees from MKE, I created a fictional scene on the corner of 4th and Brown in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood, to feature some must see / must hear performances at night in front of St. Francis church. For those unfamiliar with the cypher, it is a space, an opportunity, where Hip-Hop emcees get together, a DJ sets up tables, and emcees take turns free-styling.

The battling, free-styling, storytelling, and expression used to be as essential to success as a singer and “rapper” as it was one of the ways artists got their names out there to develop a fan base, an important pillar of Hip-Hop culture, showcasing the lyrical ability, unique style of these talented artists.

Hip-Hop Cypher on 4th & Brown (Study) • Acrylic on paper • 12H x 16W

 UMASS Augusta Savage Art Gallery – Breathing While Black Exhibition 

Featuring works by over 50 artists from 17 countries, Breathing While Black is a juried digital visual art exhibition, inviting international response to the recent and ongoing slaughter of Black Americans. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic when the world suffers from the physical and psychological devastation of this plague, not only have Black people in the U.S. been disproportionately affected, but they also continue to be victims of hateful brut force: The police kneeling on George Floyd’s neck, the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery while he was jogging, and of Breonna Taylor in her own home. These are only too reminiscent of the earlier murders of Eric Garner, Philando Castile, and Trayvon Martin. All are symbolic of a 400-year pattern. The countries represented by our bold and talented exhibiting artists including South Africa, Guyana, Chile, Mauritania, Haiti, Yugoslavia, Iran, Nigeria, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Pakistan, England, Cameroon, India, Togo, Dominican Republic, and U.S.

 

Participating Artists: Marie Medjine Antoine, Aileen Bassis, Matthew Bollinger, William Burton Jr., Alexandra Buxbaum, Ronaldo Byrd, Robert Castagna, Kikiya Kiara Basilio Crisostomo, Stanwyck Cromwell, Abdoul-Ganiou Dermani, Barry Olusegun-Noble Despenza, Ana Diaz, Kay Douglas, Danielle Demetria East, Madge Evers, Sepideh Faramarzi, Soroush Farzin, Christopher Fluder, Maura Freeman, Chelvanaya B. Gabriel, Alen Ilijic, Jazzmin Imani, Ryan Jae, Pallavi Jain, Capt. James V, Mutòpe j. johnson, ken kamara, Carlie Mackenzie Kempf,  Robert A. Ketchens, Sarah Landrum, Jesse Lane, Saleh Lo, Sherwin Long, James Loveless Jr., Murk Malik, Cecilia Martinez, Jabulani Maseko, Scott Mayberry, Kirk Maynard, Rosemary Meza-DesPlas, Jason Montgomery, Steven Montinar, Terresa Moses, Jeff Musser, Juan Alberto Negroni, Nkosikhona Ngcobo, Ini Oluwa, Andre Pace, Carol Peebles, Thomas Pickarski, Dhan Prasad, Kelly Reilly, Emad Salehi, Gigi Salij, Keith Shepherd, Rochelle Shicoff, Shori Sims, Sarah Sipling, Whitney Stanley, Christine Keator Steele, Laura Sturtz, Christopher Sullivan, Eesha Suntai, L.G. Talbot, Oyelade Oyewole Tayo, B’Rael Thunder, Ines Tolentino, T. Owens Union, Betsy van Die, Sam Wallace,  Eddie Watkins, Lisa Whittington, Taylor N Wilson,  Andrew Wohl, Hilary Zetler, Dara Herman Zierlein

 

 

You Are Respectfully Cautioned • Digital Art • 16"W x 20"H

 

 

5pts Art Gallery & Studios – This is America

5 Points Art Gallery & Studios’ 4th art show, is a consciously curated group exhibition coinciding with the United States’ Independence Day with visual artworks by 17 artists from traditionally overlooked vantage points, responding to the patriotism and nationalism the holiday was constructed to imbue.

This Is America is meant to both corroborate and challenge the notion of Americanism, citizenship and belonging, racial representation, historical and cultural influence, religious freedom, national and global amnesty, and pride in iconography associated with the red, white and blue, stars and stripes. With a breadth of work reflecting upon current and historical concepts and lived experiences, viewers are posed to find commonality or grapple with divergent perspectives tied to their nationalistic, political, and racial identities.

This Is America exhibiting artists are Wisconsin-based, national, and international and works are equally diverse, including but not limited to paintings, drawings, collages, textiles/fiber art, mixed media compositions, photography, audio visual, sculptures, and conceptual installations.

Featured Artists are: Alain Cabrera (Havana, Cuba), Charly Palmer (Atlanta, GA), David Najib Kasir (Milwaukee, WI), Della Wells (Milwaukee, WI), Erik Salgado (Chicago, IL), Evelyn Patricia Terry (Milwaukee, WI), Fatima Laster (Milwaukee, WI), George Williams Jr. (Beloit, WI), Kierston Ghaznavi (Milwaukee, WI), Marvin Tate (Chicago, IL), Mutope J. Johnson (Milwaukee, WI), Portia Cobb (Milwaukee, WI), Rhonda Gatlin-Hayes (Milwaukee, WI), Ruthie Joy (Milwaukee, WI), Sonji Hunt (Milwaukee, WI), Spencer Hutchinson (Chicago, IL), and Xavier Lightfoot (Milwaukee, WI).

1 of 3 Featured paintings: A Soldier's Tale • Acrylic on canvas • 30"H x 24"W

Juneteenth Day, Commemorative Poster • 16Wx20H

Var West Gallery – The Influencer Exhibition

 The exhibit delivers a multitude of disciplines, objects and aesthetics, as well as artistic backgrounds, histories, and identities. With so many prominent artistic voices in one room, MKE Influencers validates the robust and diverse art scene that stretches beyond the southeastern Wisconsin region.

Exhibiting artists are Reggie Baylor, Brent Budsberg, Ray Chi, Kyoung Ae Cho, Santiago Cucullu, Michael Davidson, Melissa Dorn, Paul Druecke, Richard Galling, Nina Ghanbarzadeh, Michelle Grabner, Jon Horvath, Niki Johnson, Mutope J. Johnson, Frank Juarez, David Najib Kasir, Greg Klassen, kathryn e. martin, Colin Matthes, Shane McAdams, Shana McCaw, Kevin Miyazaki, Joseph Mougel, Keith Nelson, Stacey Williams Ng, Rosemary Ollison, Will Pergl, Nirmal Raja, Tia Richardson, John Riepenhoff, Jill Sebastian, Ariana Vaeth, Leslie Vansen, Shane Walsh, Della Wells, Chris Willey, Jason S. Yi, and Rina Yoon.

You Wanna Steal My Blues Huh, John Lee Hooker • Acrylic on Illustration board • 24"H x 20"W

Giving Gallery: Community in Process

Our community. Our stories. Our unlimited potential.

This is the story of a community renewed. It’s about the people who stand up, dust off, tune in and engage every day to make sure that everyone gets a chance at a brighter future. It’s a visual reminder of where we’ve been and where we’re going. When we unite, we create possibilities for others and ourselves. Please join us. We hope you like the art. We hope you learn something new. We hope you’re inspired to help us continue the story together.

                     NML Foundation Giving Gallery Giving Gallery Video

Chipstone Foundation – The Dave Project

Currently on View at the Milwaukee Art Museum

Through collaboration with the Chipstone Foundation curatorial staff, Jon Prown, Executive Director/Chief Curator and Sarah Carter, Curator/Director of Research Milwaukee-based visual artist Mutope J. Johnson, helps to re-imagine the history of African-American material culture and design history. As part of the reinstallation of the Milwaukee Art Museum, which opened to the public on November 24, 2015. 

David Drake, also known as “Dave the Potter” was a highly talented and historically significant ceramic artisan (ca.1800-1870s). Dave’s story and craftsmanship inspired The Dave Project Gallery, which celebrates the lives and work of historic African-American artisans and makers.

The Chipstone Foundation curatorial staff states; “Milwaukee-based artist Mutope J. Johnson created the eight paintings featured in The Dave Project Gallery. Each image is based on careful research and Johnson’s own creative response to the objects. His paintings enrich the stories we are able to tell about these artisans by visualizing the worlds these objects once inhabited.” Chipstone Foundation Milwaukee Art Museum

The Dave Project • Series of eight paintings • Watercolor on Paper

Justified Art • Overture Center Gallery #1

Madison, Wisconsin – March 10, thru May 31, 2015

Opening Reception: Friday, May 1st | 6-8pm during Gallery Night

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JustifiedAngerDiscussion

Justified Art! is a platform for visual artists to participate in the conversation inspired by "Justified Anger", a Cap Times essay by Rev. Alex Gee detailing his personal experience with racial profiling and discrimination as an African American living in the Madison area. 

Featured painting: Mikal Pruitt, Bronzeville Poet Series • Oil on canvas • 36"H x 60"W