Heather Gaudio Fine Art is pleased to present The Space We Exist In, curated by Ghanaian-American art curator Larry Ossei-Mensah. This is the first time the gallery invites a guest curator to organize an exhibition. The group show will open on November 16th and will run through January 18th, 2025. The public is invited to attend an opening reception and curator talk on Saturday, November 16, 4-6pm. Photo credit: Aaron Ramsey

The Space We Exist In serves as a platform for rich dialogue and self-reflection for both the artists and viewers by questioning what it means to ‘Hold Space’ or ‘Exist Within a Space.’ This exhibition features a diverse ensemble of visual artists whose practices create visual poetry that invites viewers to actively engage with the artworks. The exhibition fosters a deeper connection between art and the audience by challenging viewers to redefine their perceptions of the world and their place within it.

Each artist in this exhibition employs a unique blend of techniques and media, ranging from vivid representational objects to evocative abstract paintings. Patrick Alston’s bold abstractions use striking color palettes and dynamic forms to evoke powerful emotional responses, prompting viewers to confront their perceptions and biases. Deborah Dancy’s works, with their intricate detail and emotive use of color, delve into the complexities of personal and collective memory. Kim Dacres’ sculptures, created from recycled tires and found materials, are powerful commentaries on strength, resilience, and the human spirit, imbuing everyday objects with profound significance. Clara Nartey’s textile-based art transforms fibers into expressive, tactile narratives, bridging the gap between traditional craft and contemporary art. Shinique Smith’s works, often incorporating fabric, calligraphy, and collage, explore themes of consumption, identity, and cultural history, creating dynamic compositions that challenge viewers to consider the material and conceptual spaces they occupy. Patrick Quarm’s layered, mixed-media portraits challenge traditional notions of identity and culture, using vibrant patterns and textures to explore the intersection of past and present. Austin Uzor’s paintings, with their ethereal quality and exploration of liminal spaces, invite viewers to reflect on themes of migration, displacement, and the quest for belonging.

The Space We Exist In is not just a visual journey but an intellectual and emotional experience. The selected works act as mirrors and portals, reflecting personal and collective experiences while offering glimpses into diverse perspectives. This exhibition seeks to create a space where viewers can pause, reflect, and engage in meaningful conversations about the narratives articulated by the artists and those of others, ultimately fostering a sense of community and shared humanity.

By bringing together a rich tapestry of voices and visions, this exhibition underscores the power of art to transcend boundaries and connect us to our innermost selves and each other during a tumultuous time in our society. “The Space We Exist In,” an exhibition that promises to challenge and transform how we perceive the world and our place within it.

Artists in the exhibition:

Patrick Alston
Kim Dacres
Deborah Dancy
Clara Nartey
Patrick Quarm
Shinique Smith
Austin Uzor

About the Curator:

Larry Ossei-Mensah is a Ghanaian-American curator and cultural critic reshaping our perceptions of art and society with a dynamic blend of innovation and inclusivity. Ossei-Mensah has leveraged his curatorial practice as a platform to establish a global footprint, having curated exhibitions from Manila to London to Athens and, most recently, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ossei-Mensah employs contemporary art and culture as a powerful medium for challenging norms and fostering a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world.

Formerly the Susanne Feld Hilberry Senior Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAD), Detroit, and Curator-at-Large at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Ossei-Mensah catalyzes change. Co-founding the nonprofit ARTNOIR, he pioneers racial equity in the art world, amplifying the voices of creatives, curators, and communities of color. Ossei-Mensah’s influence spans the globe, curating exhibitions in renowned spaces like MOAD in San Francisco, MASS MoCA, The Metropolitan Museum in Manila, The Seattle Art Museum, Ben Brown Fine Arts in Hong Kong and London, as co-curated of the 7th Athen Biennale in Athens, and most recently the Denver Art Museum where organized a multivenue solo museum debut for Amoako Boafo – Soul of Black Folks.

Recently, Ossei-Mensah curated with ARTNOIR and UBS Bank the groundbreaking multimedia presentation, “The Poetics of Dimensions,” at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2023, hailed by Harper’s Bazaar Magazine as a standout exhibition. The presentation featured artists Nari Ward, Sonia Gomes, Melissa Joseph, Anthony Akinbola, and Julianknxx. Ossei-Mensah consistently pushes the boundaries of contemporary expression by collaborating with trailblazing artists such as Steve McQueen, Sanford Biggers, February James, Chase Hall, Catherine Opie, Firelei Baez, and Judy Chicago.

Heather Gaudio Fine Art specializes in emerging and established artists, offering painting, works on paper, photography, and sculpture. The gallery provides a full-range of art advisory services, from forming and maintaining a collection, to securing secondary market material, to assisting with framing and installation. The focus is on each individual client, selecting art that best serves his or her vision, space, and resources. The six exhibitions offered every year are designed to present important talent and provide artwork appealing to a broad range of interests. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday; 10:30am to 5:30pm; and by appointment.