It's amazing how art and music can immediately change the mood and vibe of your othewise, not-so-great week. Last weekend, I was invited to a small, intimate gathering of South Asians, hosted by my friend
Prince Bhojwani. We had the opportunity to learn more about
That Desi Spark and
Zeehan Wazed's own art practice and the studio he shares with fellow artists.
Walking around the studio, I was reminded again of the importance of supporting Black and brown artists. When I was younger, I remember going to galleries and not seeing anyone who looked like me on the walls. I also couldn't wrap my head around the idea of being a full-time artist—that it was a viable option for a potential career or vocation path.
More nefariously, I also recall gallery staff not acknowledging me when I stopped by to browse the artwork, despite me having the income and means to purchase—my very own Pretty Woman moment! Around a decade ago, I vowed to start my own art collection with a focus on Black and brown artists. But 10 years later, the art industry has not changed at all—as recent as 2 years ago, I dealt with galleries not wanting to share their price list with me. They often sell to folks with collections who they believe might aid in the dollar value appreciation of the piece—read: affluent, white folks.
The first time I saw someone who looked like me in an art piece was a painting by Nimisha Bhanot, a Canadian visual artist,
who had painted a Tamil woman back in 2015. I would later go on to acquire another piece by this artist but this leads me to another point—that women are disproportionately underrepresented and undervalued in the art industry.
No surprises there, right ladies? There is still
a long way to go before parity is achieved in the industry.
If you're interested in starting your own collection, I would definitely encourage you to reach out directly to the artist and to not be so focused on the secondary market's value of the artist. So long as you're not in the business of flipping, buy art that you love, that brings a smile to your face—after all, you'll be staring at the pieces for years to come. I personally love gazing at my pieces and discovering something new each time! 🎨🖼️
