Creative Black minds have always introduced (and perfected) content that others either mimic or abuse for their own benefit. From music to sports, food and even spirits (Egyptians first documented the brewing process… look it up), Black folks are easily the most influential people on the planet and art is no different.
The monthlong exhibit (May 15-June 15), “A Black Artist in a White World,” spearheaded by publicity guru Nickie Robinson and presented in part by rolling out, speaks to the aforementioned brilliance. It also offers a virtual presentation featuring artists among the likes of Abi Salami, Ronnie Rob, Bianca Batlle Nguema, Tigner Rand, Bernard W. Brooks, Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks, and Michelle Johnson Lee.
Creating an exhibit dedicated to art, virtual or not, was actually born from frustration. Robinson, who owns and operates GoodGirlPR, originally set out to be a lawyer upon graduating from the University of Denver. She was on a fast track to realizing that goal while working at Merril Lynch in the compliance department. After being an assistant vice president at Deutsche Bank (2008), she finally broke free from Wall Street and launched GoodGirlPR.
Through various relationships, Robinson earned the trust of several artists who she placed in mainstream magazines … and then came the drama.
“I started doing PR for a large art collection in Germany, and did a great job, but [was] always feeling like I was never good enough,” she recalls. “They would always compare me to my White colleagues … how dope they were, how they did such a great job. [But] their work product was always subpar. I would always produce better work in this art world that I didn’t have any experience in.”
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