Modern-Day Art Icons Descend Upon Miami Beach for Dynamic Art Display and Debut Discussion
Miami Beach, FL. November 11, 2019 – On December 2, Creative Minds Talks will bring world-famous artist Kehinde Wiley and highly-acclaimed, industry titan Kasseem Dean (a.k.a Swizz Beatz), to Miami’s New World Center during Miami Art Week for a dynamic discussion about the state of activism, philanthropy and how to make it in today’s world as a creative. Known for juxtaposing power pairs on grand stages, Creative Minds Talks is poised to offer a captivating experience for its most iconic installment yet.
Kehinde Wiley – considered to be one of the most eloquent artists of this era – is joining us for his first public conversation after the historic unveiling of his “Rumors of War” sculpture, currently turning heads in Times Square. Internationally lauded for his official portrait of President Barack Obama, Wiley has firmly situated himself within art history’s tradition of portraiture. Earlier this year, Wiley launched his new artist in residence program, Black Rock Senegal, with Dean’s active involvement on the committee selecting the first year of artists. Now, the two friends reunite for an intimate and engaging conversation, creating a landmark moment in Art Basel history.
“Black Rock is about West Africa and it is about the world. The West African story is all of our stories: it is about aspiration, community, and tradition,” says Kehinde Wiley. “I founded Black Rock because I wanted to invite unique thinkers from across the world to join me in Dakar and become a part of this creative evolution. Art, in any form, is about dialogue. I am proud that Black Rock is doing the work to inform a new global discourse about what Africa means today.”
Kasseem Dean is an American hip-hop recording artist, DJ, record producer, art collector and entrepreneur whose name reigns in the cultural world at large. Through The Dean Collection, Dean and his wife Alicia Keys, have contributed to and been inspired by a far-reaching community of global contemporary artists. Bringing his insight as a New York visionary to the Magic City, guests who purchase one of Creative Minds Talks limited-quantity tickets can look forward to a compelling conversation between creatives, red carpet entry, champagne reception and a VIP rooftop afterparty.
“Creatives hold the keys to the culture. We are a community constantly inspiring and challenging each other to do more,” says Swizz Beatz. “Kehinde is an artist that I have always admired who pushes beyond the limit of what is possible. It is my pleasure to be on stage with him and my hope is that our conversation will inspire the next generation of creatives.”
Creative Minds Talks is a benefit platform that features the ‘art of storytelling’ and sits with the brightest minds in art, architecture, fashion, music, film, sports and philanthropy known for captivating, on-stage dialogue. As an entity dedicated to education through conversation, Creative Minds Talks curates purposeful talks for passionate crowds while aiming to engage, entertain and inspire. With strong philanthropic roots, Creative Minds Talks believes in giving back to the community and does so by making contributions to causes championed by its guest speakers, as well as investing in the next generation of leaders, by inviting local youth to share in these enriching experiences. For this exclusive Art Basel installment, Creative Minds Talks is underwriting 120 tickets for students and faculty to attend the event and meet Kehinde and Swizz, while all ticket proceeds will benefit Kehinde’s foundation, Black Rock – a new artist-in-residence program in Dakar, Senegal.
“We are delighted to host two incredible artists and philanthropists, Kehinde Wiley and Swizz Beatz, at the upcoming installment of Creative Minds Talks during Art Basel Miami Beach,” says Ewa Poilleux, Founder and Producer of Creative Minds Talks. “Their work, values and drive to create opportunities for others aligns with our mission and is inspiring for all of us. I like to call them modern day Medicis.”
Creative Minds Talks has partnered with the Perez Art Museum Miami and New World Symphony to bring this experience to life.
To purchase event tickets: www.creativemindstalks.com.
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About Black Rock
Named for the volcanic rocks that blanket its shoreline, Black Rock is a new residency program created by renowned artist Kehinde Wiley, which seeks to reframe the global discourse around West Africa in the context of creative evolution. The residency brings together international, multi-disciplinary artists to live and work in Dakar, Senegal for 1 to 3 month stays where they are immersed in the local artistic community, engaging in conversations and collaborations that are multigenerational, cross-cultural and crossdisciplinary.
About Creative Minds Talks
Creative Minds Talks is a platform that features the ‘art of storytelling’ and sits with the brightest minds in art, architecture, fashion, music, film, sports and philanthropy for captivating, on-stage dialogue. Passion meets purpose here as we aim to engage, educate, entertain, and inspire through conversation. Creative Minds Talks also believes in giving back to the community and does so by making financial contributions to causes championed by our guest speakers, as well as investing in the next generation of leaders, by inviting local youth to share in these enriching experiences.
About The Dean Collection
The Dean Collection—founded by Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean and his wife Alicia Keys in 2014—is a contemporary family collection and cultural platform. The collection actively acquires, and commissions, work by contemporary visual artists such as Derrick Adams, Nina Chanel Abney, Jordan Casteel, Nick Cave, Arthur Jafa, KAWS, Deana Lawson, Ebony G. Patterson, Kehinde Wiley, and many others. The collection also includes the largest privately-owned body of work by Gordon Parks. The platform organizes artist support initiatives such as the No Commission art and music festival and TDC 20, both designed to fund artists’ practices and projects. Dean sits on the board of trustees of the Brooklyn Museum, New York and the Americas Foundation of the Serpentine Galleries, London.