The first Black-owned art gallery in Boston recently opened its doors.
Located in the Seaport neighborhood, Blackchip Gallery officially opened to the public on June 27th. The gallery’s founder, Tavares Brewington, explained in a conversation with CBS News that the gallery is meant to spotlight Black and Brown artists and their work.
While also celebrating the city’s culture, each exhibit will highlight the artistic contributions of lesser-known Black and Brown artists.
Blkchip Gallery is the creation of a collaboration between Street Theory Collective and Tavares Brewington, the founder of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab Street2Ivy.
Artists that are part of the gallery include Rob Gibbs and Meclina Gomes.
“It really is an effort to have the Seaport reflect the rich cultural background of the city. It’ll be a place where people can come from diverse backgrounds and enjoy all of the great things here in the Seaport,” said Brewington. “And make Boston that shining city on the hill.”
The art gallery’s launch means it joins an exclusive list of Black owned art galleries located across the U.S.
In New York City, the Skoto Gallery has been a staple art gallery for Black artists. Established in 1992, its first exhibition was curated by Ornette Coleman. Known as the creator of the free jazz genre, Coleman was a revolutionary saxophonist and artist.
Since their first exhibit, the Skoto Gallery has rapidly grown, representing contemporary Black artists. Currently, the gallery’s “Group Show: Fairy Tales and Illusions” is the only exhibit on display and includes the work of notable African artists such as Adebisi Fabunmi and Bruce Onobrakpeya.
Blkchip Gallery, Boston's premier Black-owned art space in Seaport, celebrates diversity in art. Founder Tavares Brewington spotlights underrepresented Black and Brown artists, creating a welcoming hub to embrace cultural richness. 🎨✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏿#BostonArt #DiversityInArt pic.twitter.com/ujaksqKXDn
— ArtistLiveBoston (@artistlivebos) July 10, 2024
In Los Angeles, the Art\+Practice gallery is a 20,000-square-foot space for exhibitions. Founded by artist Mark Bradford, the gallery focuses on educating the youth through free access to art created by BIPOC artists.
Current exhibits on display include a series of art from the artist and activist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh who uses oil paintings, murals and multimedia to tell the stories of Black Americans, women and queer people.
With the newest gallery opening in Boston, artists in the city will also be able to celebrate their experiences in the city.
“What’s most important is that we’re celebrating fine artists that are people of color,” said local artist Meclina Gomes, per CBS News. “Their value, who they are in this community, the legacy that we’re all building together is vital.”
