Wet Paint in the Wild: Rapper and Curator Vic Mensa Hits the Studio With Thundercat and Hangs Out at His Kavi Gupta Group Show

Annie Armstrong August 31, 2022 ShareShare This Article

Welcome to Wet Paint in the Wild, an extension of Annie Armstrong’s gossip column wherein she gives art-world insiders a disposable camera so they can give us a peek into their corner of the madcap industry.

I first learned that rapper Vic Mensa is in fact a budding curator this Spring, when I went to Chicago for EXPO. At the time, Mensa was gearing up for his curatorial debut at dealer Kavi Gupta’s gallery, with a group show titled “SKIN + MASKS”, which features work by Josie Love Roebuck and Darryl Westly, now on view through 3 September. I haven’t been able to make it back to the Windy City to see it myself, but sent a disposable over to the “Wraith” rapper to see what a week in his life there looks like.

Bad boy of the Southside.

Starting the week at Garifuna Flava Chicago on 63rd Street—best oxtails in the city.

Stopped by “SKIN + MASKS,” my curatorial debut, at Kavi Gupta Gallery. Included in the group exhibition is wearable art circa 2015/2016. Created in collaboration with Franc Fernandez.

Thundercat with a pre roll from 93 Boyz, Chicago’s first Black-owned cannabis brand—founded by me.

Uduimoh Ellis Umolu at the Kendrick Lamar concert.

Stupid faces and stupid chains. Thundercat.

Friday—in the studio creating a masterpiece with Peter CottonTale and DexLvL.

In the studio. Thundercat is the best bass player on the planet. Fight me.

An old friend next to a painting by Terron Cooper Sorrells in “SKIN + MASKS” at Kavi Gupta.

Friday night—master of ceremonies after a panel discussion for “SKIN + MASKS” at Kavi Gupta.

CENTERFOLDS. Me and Chanelle Lacy, a director at Kavi Gupta, after the discussion at the gallery. We’re in the summer edition of Cultured Magazine and planned “SKIN + MASKS” together.