Swizz Beatz’s Bronx Art Fair Will Show the World Where Hip Hop Started

His new art fair lets artists collect all the proceeds.

Swizz Beatz. Courtesy of Swizz Beatz.

Born and bred in the South Bronx, hip hop star Swizz Beatz is heading back to his native borough with his favorite contemporary artists in tow for No Commission NY: Art Performs. The unusual art fair is designed to directly benefit artists, giving them free exhibition space for their work and 100 percent of the proceeds of their art sales.

At the No Commission Art Fair’s inaugural edition, held in Miami during Art Basel in Miami Beach, the 35 participating artists sold over $1 million in art.

Tomokazu Matsuyama, <em>We Met Thru Match.com</em> (2016). Courtesy of Tomokazu Matsuyama.

Tomokazu Matsuyama, We Met Thru Match.com (2016). Courtesy of Tomokazu Matsuyama.

Over two thirds of participants are new this time around, while returning artists include Derrick Adams, Sandra Chevrier, Todd James, So Youn Lee, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Jaybo Monk, Lyle Owerko, Swoon, Kehinde Wiley, and Zio Ziegler.

“To show the world where hip hop started, I think it’s magic,” said Swizz in a video promoting the fair. “No Commission is a philanthropic art movement, and we’re bringing it to the Bronx.”

Rashaad Newsome, <em>Jesus Be a Fence</em> (2016). Courtesy of Rashaad Newsome.

Rashaad Newsome, Jesus Be a Fence (2016). Courtesy of Rashaad Newsome.

The fair, which will be held at a to-be-announced waterfront warehouse (but apparently not the same one that hosted Lucien Smith‘s tasteless Halloween bash?), is being presented by Bacardi and the Dean Collection, featuring the recording artist’s personal art holdings (Swizz was born Kasseem Dean). It is free to attend, but guests must register ahead of time.

The event is being billed as an “immersive experience where art and music collide” and will feature special musical performances in addition to contemporary art from 36 artists. No word on whether there will be a set from Swizz himself, who rocked this year‘s Brooklyn Artists Ball at the Brooklyn Museum.

Nina Chanel Abney. Courtesy of Monique Meloche.

Nina Chanel Abney, “If You Say So…” Courtesy of Project for Empty Space.

Counted among the world’s most innovative collectors by artnet News, Swizz, who appeared on a panel with auctioneer Simon de Pury and artist Daniel Arsham in Miami last December, joined the Brooklyn Museum board in October.

Watch Swizz Beatz and A$AP Rock tour the Bronx:

See the full list of artist participating in No Commission NY:

Nina Chanel Abney

Derrick Adams

John Ahearn

Ricardo Cavolo

Luigi Cazzaniga

Sandra Chevrier

Alyssa Dennis

Delphine Diallo

Faile

Mike Falcon

Jeffrey Gibson

Hassan Hajaj

Serban Ionescu

Marcus Jahmal

Douglas James

Todd James

Kajahl

Jerrome Lagarrigue

So Youn Lee

Kristen Liu Wong

Tomokazu Matsuyama

Taylor McKimens

Karmimadeebora McMillan

Jaybo Monk

Okuda

Lyle Owerko

Rashaad Newsome

Ebony Patterson

Daniel Peddle

Pablo Power

Nathaniel Mary Quinn

Jacolby Satterwhite

Swoon

Kehinde Wiley

Saya Woolfalk

Zio Ziegler

No Commission NY is on view in the Bronx, August 11–14, 2016. 

 


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