Discover the New York Subway art exhibition by LGBT+ and artists of color
- The Black Lives Matter movement inspired this unusual pop-up exhibition in a Brooklyn train station.
Artists from the LGBT+ and people of color communities in New York have come together to produce an exhibition using the Black Lives Matter movement as their inspiration.
The exhibit is now open in Atlantic Terminal Subway Station in Brooklyn, New York and will be on display until 6 September.
MTV have funded the pop-up display to promote their 2020 Video Music Awards on 30 August.
However, the MTV employees who dreamt up the idea hope it transcends a traditional ad campaign.
Indeed, Antonia Baker and Rich Tu, both people of color working at the TV station, took inspiration from the Black Lives Matter protests they attended at the Barclay Center.
Moreover, they hope it will amplify underrepresented voices and the local community.
However, if you can’t make it to Brooklyn you can meet the artists and see their art here:
Eva Zar
Zar is a Russian-Austrian photographer, currently based in New York City.
She is known for photographing black, indigenous and other people of color, as well as non-binary and gender fluid subjects. Meanwhile she tries to encourage self-love and empowerment.
She explains: My artworks have always been about celebrating my subjects and telling a both fabulous and inclusive story.
‘In this body of work, I concentrate on two queer Brooklyn based creatives who have been entertaining Brooklyn’s dance floor and community and uniting the audience through music and performance.
‘We’re all battling, whether that’s a fight within ourselves or the fight for justice. Knowing that you can come home and lean on your (chosen) family, that’s what real community is.
‘I know that besides anything that is going on in the world, our community gives us space for an inclusive and safe future.’
Amika Cooper
Cooper is from Canada and lives in Brooklyn. Her illustrative style is expressive, with a focus on Afrofuturism.
She says: ‘Art is communal, it’s optimistic and reflective. We create to honor our past and build our future. These works were made as a reflection of the forces that connect us, and remind us of the importance of creating, sharing, and repeating.’
Wael Morcos and Jon Key
Morcos hails from Beirut, Lebanon and resides in Brooklyn.
He is interested in Arabic typography and its modern development. That got him involved in the Typographic Matchmaking projects where he teamed up with Dutch type designers to collaborate on designing bilingual typefaces.
Meanwhile, Jon Key grew up in rural Alabama and also lives in Brooklyn.
Through photography, installation and painting he creates intimate spaces. Those spaces explore how he confronted his own queerness, blackness, southerness, and family.
Together they form the Morcos Key graphic design studio.
They say: ‘The work reflects our investment in queer and diasporic identities. That has guided us in developing a process rooted in community-building within multicultural contexts.
‘We recognize the responsibility of working at an institutional scale to advocate for the perspectives of under-represented groups and to prioritize their points of access and celebrate the narratives.’
Bronson Farr
Farr produces heartfelt, expressive, slice-of-life images that are whimsical and playful.
He says: ‘This work is about building empathy for black men.
‘My aim is to allow the viewer permission to see black people, especially men, the way I do – wrapped in warmth, love, and light, and deserving of your protection. Because we matter.’
Eugenia Mello
Originally from Argentina, Mello is passionate about rhythm, movement and feelings. She uses color and shape to translate into drawing the things that are difficult to put into words.
She explains: ‘This piece is meant as an essay on rhythm, part of a body of work looking to find a key to make music with images.
‘The hope is to create a vibration loud enough to be felt by the viewer.’
Kervin Brisseaux
Brisseaux is a designer, illustrator, and proud first-generation Haitian-American. His illustration style incorporates influences from fashion, music, and other facets of pop culture.
He says: ‘These pieces are acts of self-expression that tap into various sources of inspiration, moments within our culture and emotions. The unifying theme is a celebration of our unique personalities.’
Zipeng Zhu
Zhu grew up in China but currently lives in New York City. He says he wants to ‘make everyday a razzle-dazzle musical’.
He adds: ‘A little imagination goes a long way, not only taking us to a different fantastical world but also putting us into a good mood.
‘Music sometimes takes us on a trip down memory lane, but sometimes it takes us to a whole new adventure. Here’s my imagination of a galaxy that I would love to get lost in.’
