art Archives - Rolling Out

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Roula David, vice president of 1xRUN and founder and executive director of Murals in the Market, says that she is grateful that 1xRUN could collaborate on a project like the “Your Vote Matters” community art series where art is used in such a meaningful way. 1xRUN is a Detroit-based gallery and art publisher. During this…

In Detroit along Woodward Avenue downtown, or on Livernois south of Six Mile, or down Joy Road, brightly colored murals with “Your Vote Matters” messages emblazoned on the sides of buildings command a striking and bold presence. As a part of efforts to promote conversations around voters’ rights the ACLU of Michigan in partnership with…

The ACLU of Michigan in partnership with MichiganVoting.org, a coalition of statewide organizations, launched an aggressive information campaign designed to educate the public about their voting rights. Particularly important to this campaign, branded “40 Days of Early Voting,” is education around Proposal 3, which passed in 2018 and expands access to the ballot by authorizing…

Self-taught Nigerian artist Collins Obijakurefers to himself as a custodian of contemporary Black culture. He uses his art as a vehicle to explore the evolving consciousness and contexts of his own identity. Using charcoal, he brings his subjects to life on the canvas with contoured lines and fingerprint-like designs. In his latest series “Kings’ Collection;…

Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria is a national Black-owned pizza business. Started by three best friends — EJ Reed, Derrick “Mo” Moore, and Clint Gray — Slim & Husky fuses their love for pizza, hip-hop music, and art, into a great restaurant with a cool vibe. Slim & Husky’s is about more than just pizza. They…

The representation of women in all spaces has been a rallying cry that has grown louder in recent years. The recent nomination of U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris as the Democratic vice presidential candidate points to a shift in sensibility when it comes to how women are viewed in spaces of power. Sisters Dionna and Danyelle…

Chanda Branch is an educator, art enthusiast and Ms. Black USA 2019. Being taught the importance of leadership and civic engagement at an early age has carried her through a successful career in pageantry. Branch graduated from Tennessee State University, with a bachelor’s in speech communications and theater. The St. Petersburg, Florida, native has formerly…

Black women love to experiment with the latest hairstyles, eye-popping nails, and cutting-edge fashions. If you have the goods to deliver the best, you can build a loyal clientele. For expert manicurist Kia Stewart, who is popularly known as Lux K, nail design is where her hustle and artistry merge. At her Brooklyn, New York-based…

Beyoncé’s Black Is King proved to be a powerful project that empowered Black people around the world and displayed the beauty of Africa and its people. However, some have lashed out at Beyoncé after someone on Twitter suggested that she should be known as “Mama Africa.” Can we normalizing calling Beyonce "Mama Africa" #BlackIsKing pic.twitter.com/vKlFKxAtRg…

Virgil Abloh has collaborated with Mercedes-Benz on a new project. The Louis Vuitton menswear designer has joined forces with Gorden Wagener, chief design officer at the German car manufacturer, to design artwork called “Project Geländewagen,” inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Wagener told WWD: “Mercedes-Benz today is much more than a luxury carmaker, it is a…

Kid Cudi has opened up about using his music to channel the pain and depression he goes through. The Adventures of Moon Man and Slim Shady rapper opened up about his mental health battles during a speech for PBS’s Washington D.C. station WETA and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Home’s virtual event at the…

Bryan-Michael Cox is one of the most successful producers of this generation. Throughout his career, Cox has achieved 35 No. 1 hits, 12 Grammy Award nominations with nine wins, and 20 top 10 hits. Cox currently sits at the top of the Billboard charts with his latest collaboration “Don’t Waste My Time,” which features Usher…

Adrian Brandon is a Seattle-raised, Brooklyn-based visual artist who is using his creativity to capture attention, raise awareness and get people thinking. He is driven to make art that creates an understanding of Black culture, Black love and Black pain so that we can move forward together. Rolling out spoke with Brandon about his powerful…

On Friday, June 5, 2020, D.C. residents woke up to the words “BLACK LIVES MATTER” painted on the street leading up to the White House. The bold yellow words could be seen via satellite and captured the attention of people across the country and around the world. The mural was commissioned by Washington, D.C., Mayor…

Maurice Evans is a painter and photographer; Grace Kisa is a Kenyan-born sculptor and painter. The pair is collaborating on a one-of-a-kind artistic experience that explores womanhood in the Black diaspora. We spoke with them about their first virtual visual experience, Nu Africans, which opens Friday, May 15, 2020, at the Hammonds House Museum. Tell…

K Love the Poet is a spoken word artist and motivational speaker. She made her poetry debut in 2003 in the heart of Chicago. Since 2015, she has had more than three videos go viral. She is known for empowering people of color with her signature poem “Million Dollar Melanin.” Rolling out spoke with her…

Willow Smith is set to lock herself in a box to raise awareness about an important mental health issue. The 19-year-old daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith has teamed up with Tyler Cole for a 24-hour performance art piece focused on anxiety, which will be taking place at MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary in Los…

Hair is a defining element of Black culture, and Black History Month is the perfect time to explore the evolution of its roots. Rolling out founder and publisher Munson Steed unveiled his artistic ode to our heritage with his open edition print, “Shero Circles,” at “HAIRarchy: A Celebration of the Black Hair Experience.” Curated by…

Asia Hamilton has a phenomenal vision for art and culture. “HAIRarchy: A Celebration of the Black Hair Experience,” is an exhibition curated by Hamilton, founder and owner of Norwest Gallery of Art in Detroit. The exhibition, which opens Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, and continues through Saturday, Feb. 29, is a salute to the creativity within…

For 15 years, Art, Beats, + Lyrics has captured the essence of Black culture. The traveling show, presented by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, features artwork from emerging artists and music from top-notch DJs and artists. On Jan. 17, Art, Beats, + Lyrics celebrated its 15 years at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The capacity…