Pigment Annual Report 2018 - 2020

Rain Falls from the Lemon Tree, Acrylic, Charcoal, Decorative Papers, Hand Stitching, artist Delita Martin

PIGMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018–2021 Yearly Review

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

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Introduction

02–03

2018 Review

04–08

2019 Review

09–12

2020 Review

Pigment International™ is a multi-media arts platform that evangelizes for Black art, curation, and innovation. Based in Chicago, the organization uses arts journalism to advance the Black contemporary aesthetic in the visual arts; we honor the history and relevance of historical Black Art; and we serve as a connector for emerging creators, collectors, curators, investors, and other stakeholders. We create customized programming that sparks dialogue and inspires our constituents. We are the publishers of Pigment Magazine and founders of Black Fine Art Month.

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2021 Review

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Contact

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Conclusion

Black Fine Art Month, held each October, is a global celebration of the Black Fine Art aesthetic, an annual recognition of artists, innovators, collectors, curators and those vested in the Black Art tradition, and an opportunity to commemorate and elevate these contributions through art programming. Black Fine Art Month is an initiative of Pigment International™. Pigment International hosts a series of five Salon Talks each Thursday in October with national and international artists, collectors and others integral to the Black Art ecosystem. Black Fine Art Month has been recognized via proclamation by the U.S. Congress, State of Illinois, Cook County and the City of Chicago.

DECEMBER Art collective, PIGMENT International, hosted a three-day intimate salon event that includes an exhibition of fine art by some of the preeminent African American artists in the country.

The event was held at the Penthouse Riverside Wharf during December. The event included a Salon Talk on collecting and valuing art, special recognition of two acclaimed national artists – Frank Frazier and Gerald Griffin. The curated exhibition featured PIGMENT Intl’s founding member artists Paul Branton, Gerald Griffin, Jason E. Jones, Blake Lenoir, James Nelson, Dana Todd Pope, Pearlie Taylor, Raymond Thomas, Martha Wade, Minnie Watkins and Reisha Williams. Also exhibiting will be Nkosi Imported Crafts, and guest artists Ferrari Sheppard and Shawn Warren. The event was partially underwritten by Miami Convention and Tourism’s initiative “Art of Black.”

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Pigment Miami Reveal, Penthouse Riverside Wharf

2018

2018

2018 Miami Reveal

FEBRUARY Blake Lenoir feted at 30 Under 30 reception at Viridian Gallery in NYC. His work ‘Coercive Parental’ selected from 174 international entries to remain on exhibit through March 23.

Pigment Magazine was honored in the category Design – New Magazine.

Launched in December 2018, Pigment Magazine focuses on art, innovation and curation. The magazine consists of three sections featuring stories on artists, collection and the ancillary groups that support the arts including curators, gallery owners and arts organizations. The inaugural issue is available by visiting www.pigmentintl.com/shop

MARCH

Pigment Artist Tyler Clark’s piece “Elegance” was a standout in LA during the 2019 “Wearable Art Gala” benefitting the city’s WACO Theater. The piece was purchased for $13K by Essence Magazine owner Richelieu Dennis. During Comic Con Revolution, the artist “Edo” debuted his original painting of Marvel Creative Director Stan Lee done in his unmistakable bold, colorful style that includes over 90 references to the comic impresarios five decades long career. The piece is called Excelsior. At the Gold Coast Art Fair, one of the most prestigious art events in the Midwest, the collective staged three strikingly displayed booths, selling the work of the entire 12 artist collective.

After hosting 19 events in 2018, the most memorable being their exhibition of 15 Chicago and national artists during the prestigious Art Miami/Art Basel exhibition in December, they are now in the midst of executing a series of art exhibitions and events. Tops on the list, for the all-female led arts collective, was the formation of an Advisory Board to guide the organization. The Pigment Advisory Board Members are Dr. Patricia Jones Blessman, Shirley Evans Wofford, President of Lambent Risk Management and Rodney Herrington, co-chairman of Channing Management.

Pigment Collective photoshoot 2019

JUNE Comic-Con, Gold Coast and “Wearable Art Gala”

Juneteenth at the Federal Reserve

2019

2019

Pigment Magazine, a publication of the art collective Pigment International™ was a finalist for the publishing industry’s prestigious 2019 Folio: The Eddie and Ozzie Award.

Chicago artist, Blake Lenoir, was one of 30 young global artists recognized by Viridian Artists in New York during a reception in February. According to a release from Viridian “In a world changing culturally and politically more rapidly than ever, these artworks perhaps offer a clue to ways artists will look at their lives and times through art making in the future.”

Lenoir’s work “Coercive Parental,” part of his series CONDUIT, was selected from 174 entrees from artists across the world. In the series he examines the ‘isms’ and schisms’ that have pervaded African American culture, how these notions originated, and what it takes to dispel them forever. Children are the stars in these works, as their honesty and purity have the ability to shape new futures, chart a new course, and provide the conduit to move forward.

After one year of operation PIGMENT International, the art collective redefining global arts, culture, and innovation, is adding new artists and formalizing its advisory board.

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MAY

The work of the PIGMENT International art collective, was showcased at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago during their hosted exhibition entitled Liberation and Expression on display from June 10th – 21st. The exhibition was in recognition of Juneteenth, the goal of which was to tell stories that tell the story of African Americans and inspire others.

JANUARY

OCTOBER – Launch of Black Fine Art Month in partnership with the DuSable Museum of African American History.

– Hosted five Salon Talks at DuSable with artists, curators, journalist, collectors and others in the Black fine art ecosystem.

– Proclamations from City of Chicago, Cook County, Congressman Danny Davis and Congresswoman Robin Kelly

Coercive Parental by Blake Lenoir

50th Anniversary Black Creativity Gala

2019

The artists of Pigment International, the Black Fine Art Collective hosted their Miami Reveal Part Deux at Miami’s premier contemporary art show Spectrum in December 2019.

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Spectrum Miami is an upscale and urban curated contemporary art fair located adjacent to Red Dot Miami inside the Mana Wynwood Convention Center. Produced by the Redwood Media Group it is one of the longest running fairs during Miami Art Week.

Exhibiting Pigment International artists include Paul Branton, Tyler Clark, Angelica London, James Nelson, Lesley Martinez, Raymond Thomas, Dana Todd Pope, Dwight White, and Eddie “Edo” White. Najee Dorsey of Black Art in America, and Francis Annan Affotey of Ayzha Gallery in Milwaukee are also joining Pigment as a guest artist.

2020

DECEMBER

The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) hosted its 37th annual Black Creativity black-tie gala in January. The Gala was attended by more than 600 guests who celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition and the Black Creativity program.

Works by Pigment artists Barrett Keithley, Jason E. Jones, Blake Lenoir and Raymond Thomas were among the 200 original works selected by the jury.

The jurors, including Pigment artist Paul Branton, reviewed over 700 original works for both the professional and student exhibition. Jones and Thomas, who have both been seen at Black Creativity, joined first time presenters Keithley and Lenoir in in the prestigious art exhibition.

JULY Artists Blake Lenoir and Edo showcase work at the Andersonville Galleria Chicago artists Blake “BLen” Lenoir and Eddie “Edo” Santana White showcased their work in July at the Andersonville Galleria.

Pigment International hosts noted African American fine art collector Darrell Walker for Salon Talk Pigment International™ hosted an exclusive Salon Talk with Darrell Walker, Corliss High School grad, former NBA champion and University of Arkansas at Little Rock Men’s Basketball Coach at the Crown Center for the Humanities on the campus of Loyola University last July. Walker, one of the most prolific African American fine art collectors in the country, discussed his evolution as a collector, how he builds artist careers by collecting their work, and the legacy he hopes to impart within the African American art world. Moderating the discussion was then Director of the Joyce Foundation’s Culture Program Tracie Hall, and emceeing the event was Dionne Miller, ABC 7 Sports anchor & reporter.

The collective artists contributed artwork for the grand opening of Art in Motion (AIM).

AIM is Chicago's premier creative art’s school led in partnership with The Lynn Group, founded by Lonnie Rashid Lynn, also known as also known as Academy Award and Grammy-winning artist, actor and activist Common. Works by the Pigment Collective are on permanent display in the school.

Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Festival (MVCF) The work of Pigment artists was showcase during the month long Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Festival (MVCF) held in Oak Bluff’s, MA.

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Infinite Grace by Pigment Artist Eddie Santana "Edo" White

2019

2019

AUGUST

FEBRUARY The work of Pigment International artists was featured at BMO Harris Bank’s headquarters in February as part of their Black Professionals Network US. The theme of the event was B.O.L.D – Building Our Legacy Daily.

OCTOBER

Black Fine Art Month Work by Marcus Jansen BFAM 2020 VIrtual Salon Talk

APRIL

AUGUST Joyce Foundation grant awarded for $30,000.00

2020

JULY – NOVEMBER – Production of Pigment Magazine Fall/Winter 2020 – Surveyed Artists about Racial Reckoning of 2020

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Artist Deborah Roberts - BFAM 2020 Salon Talk Panelist

Hosted five Black Fine Art Month Salon Talks virtually to include artists, collectors, curators and others involved in the Black Fine Art ecosystem across the country.

2020

Illinois Art Works grant awarded for $8,000.00

Included the expansion of Pigment’sYouTube channel to host 2020 Virtual Salon Talks

Pigment Magazine Released – Salute to Black Women Artist – Survey of Artists on Racial Reckoning – Cover art by national renowned artist Deborah Roberts

DECEMBER – Awarded Facebook Grant for $2,500.00 – Awarded Cliff Dwellers Grant for $1,000.00

2020

Cover of Fall/Winter 2020 Pigment Magazine

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FEBRUARY Release of new Multi-Media Product – ART. Showcase of Black Fine artists and galleries.

Pigment Room via Clubhouse

JULY – OCTOBER Launch of “ Saving Democracy” Saving Democracy – An Artistic Exploration” is designed to answer the question, “where do we go from here?

A seismic change has happened in our world, brought on by the pandemic and racial reckoning. Black artists are uniquely poised to answer that question through their medium. There has been a cultural shift across the globe. This paradigm shift will permeate conversations for generations. It is a defining moment in how people interact with each other and artists are best equipped to express it in a way words cannot adequately convey. As an emerging arts organization with roots in journalism, video production, social media and cultural criticism Pigment International is well positioned to produce the multi-media experience we have named “Saving Democracy – An Artistic Exploration.”

2021

NOVEMBER

CONTACT facebook.com/PigmentIntl

twitter.com/PigmentIntl

instagram.com/pigmentintl/

CONCLUSION Something wonderful happens when passion meets purpose, and this is the intersection where Pigment International™ exists. We hope you will join us in supporting the Black art aesthetic. The Pigment Foundation is a 501©3 non-profit with a focus on artist development and arts journalism.

Black Fine Art Month™ celebrated each October is expanding here and across the globe, and we welcome partners who will assist us in evangelizing for recognition for Black artists and the entire Black art ecosystem.

We have accomplished much but there is more to do, be a part of our family.

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(312) 206-2821 pigmentintl@gmail.com www.pigmentintl.com www.blackfineartmonth.com

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