In February, I jumped at the chance to visit the Brooklyn Museum during First Fridays to attend its new exhibit, Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. I figured, what better way to celebrate Black History Month than to get tickets for the popular showcase? I’m happy I did.
Open until July 7, Giants showcases a focused selection from the celebrity couple’s world-class holdings. The first major exhibition of the Dean Collection, Giants features the monumental works by such creators as Derrick Adams, Arthur Jafa, and Meleko Mokgosi.
As I walked the museum, I was impressed by the couple’s eye for art and their smooth ability to bring legendary artists and canon-expanding contemporary artists together. The immense pieces—including the largest ever by Mokgosi—were paired with standouts such as Parks’s seminal photographs, Wiley’s revolutionary portraits, and Esther Mahlangu’s globe-bridging canvases.
As a collection, it inspired you to examine our society and celebrate the beauty of our Blackness. The vibe? We ARE giants! A message well received. I also found that the pieces truly aligned with the Brooklyn Museum’s vision to spotlight works by Black diasporic artists to expand the art-historical narrative.
I’m not sure if y’all remember, but back in 2016, Swizz Beatz hosted an art exhibit in the Bronx called The BACARDÍ x The Dean Collection ‘No Commission’ Project. I’ve always admired his eye for artwork, so I also attended that exhibit.
The project was a triumphant display of creativity and beautifully brought together the many disparate strands of contemporary visual art with established and up-and-coming artists. In my opinion, the project landed its goal of showcasing the work of a wide range of global artists while giving them a platform to sell their work and keep 100% of the money—hence, No Commission.
To get tickets for the Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, visit brooklynmuseum.org.
