Nicola Vassell Opens First Black-Owned Gallery In New York’s Chelsea

“It’s time for a black owned gallery to inhabit the art world in New York in a really strong dynamic way, “ Nicola Vassell declares. And certainly, the May 20th opening of her gallery could not have been any more fabulous or fortuitous. With New York City just lifting many Covid restrictions, the crowd gathered for the opening represented the city at its most diverse, multicultural and dynamic mix. From fellow gallerists, artists, scenesters to social influencers, an awesome crowd spilled out onto the street.

It’s time for a black owned gallery to inhabit the art world in New York

Nicola, a Jamaican born international art insider, manages to be both influential and accessible. The inaugural exhibition “Evidence” focuses on photographer and friend Ming Smith’s five decade career. ‘Rare, vintage silver gelatin work, and never before exhibited archival prints include black and white images from Harlem street scenes, to Europe, Senegal, Studio 54, and portraits ranging from Brassai to Grace Jones. Vassell says the exhibition represents “Ming’s magical realm.” As part of the historical Black photography collective Kamoinge, Ming is the first Black woman photographer whose work was purchased by MOMA. Poetic and political, Ming’s work evokes a timeless romanticism.

Ming Smith and Nicola Vassell
Pas-de-Deux Brooklyn 1976 – Ming Smith

Despite fleeing millionaires, awful municipal government, and a scary increase in racist violence, spring 2021 in New York manages to feel cautiously optimistic. At the opening dinner, toasts made by Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, Rashid Johnson, Sherry Bronfman and Stefan Bondell saluted Nicola Vassell, Ming Smith, and the creative energy that will fuel New York City’s cultural and civic renaissance.

Nicola Vassell Gallery is a contemporary art gallery committed to discourse that widens the lens of the history and future of art. Its focus is on developing an inter-generational, cross-disciplinary program of international artists and thinkers.

Nicola Vassell is an art dealer and curator. Prior to launching the gallery, Vassell was Principal at Concept NV, an art consultancy and curatorial agency that she founded in 2013, which specialized in exhibitions and debate on cultural phenomena. In 2015 Vassell was appointed Curatorial Director of The Dean Collection and No Commission, a contemporary family art collection and cultural platform developed by Kasseem “Swizz Beatz ” Dean and Alicia Keys.

Vassell has organized several exhibitions, including, Dreamweavers, Edge of Chaos, Black Eye, Substraction and No Commission: London, Berlin, Bronx, Shanghai and Miami. Vassell was a Director at Pace Gallery and Deitch Projects, NY. She is a visiting lecturer at Sotheby’s Institute of Art.

Ming Smith “Evidence” @ Nicola Vassell Gallery, NY Nicola Vassell Gallery // May 20, 2021 – July 03, 2021 – 138 Tenth Avenue Chelsea, NY

 

Read More

Visit

Art Categories

,

Tags

, , ,