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 $1 million in art.
Tomokazu Matsuyama, We Met Thru Match.com (2016). Courtesy of Tomokazu Matsuyama.
Over two thirds of participants are new this time around, while returning artists include Derrick Adams, Sandra Chevrier, Todd James, So Youn Lee, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Jaybo Monk, Lyle Owerko, Swoon, Kehinde Wiley, and Zio Ziegler.
“To show the world where hip hop started, I think it’s magic,” said Swizz in a video promoting the fair. “No Commission is a philanthropic art movement, and we’re bringing it to the Bronx.”
Rashaad Newsome, Jesus Be a Fence (2016). Courtesy of Rashaad Newsome.
The fair, which will be held at a to-be-announced waterfront warehouse (but apparently not the same one that hosted Lucien Smith‘s tasteless Halloween bash?), is being presented by Bacardi and the Dean Collection, featuring the recording artist’s personal art holdings (Swizz was born Kasseem Dean). It is free to attend, but guests must register ahead of time.
The event is being billed as an “immersive experience where art and music collide” and will feature special musical performances in addition to contemporary art from 36 artists. No word on whether there will be a set from Swizz himself, who rocked this year‘s Brooklyn Artists Ball at the Brooklyn Museum.
Nina Chanel Abney, “If You Say So…” Courtesy of Project for Empty Space.
Counted among the world’s most innovative collectors by artnet News, Swizz, who appeared on a panel with auctioneer Simon de Pury and artist Daniel Arsham in Miami last December, joined the Brooklyn Museum board in October.
Watch Swizz Beatz and A$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.