A memorial sculpture to commemorate the West Africa Squadron, which freed over 150,000 enslaved people between 1807 and 1867, has been completed by sculptor Vincent Gray. The squadron was based in Portsmouth, where the city council has declined to host the statue due to concerns that it would be a "glorious but neglected part of Britain's history" being commemorated at the expense of other stories. Despite initial plans for the sculpture to be placed in Gunwharf Quays, the owners pulled out after an employee diaspora network objected. The fundraisers have since approached several institutions, including Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the National Maritime Museum, but were rebuffed. Colin Kemp, who set up the memorial appeal, is now seeking an alternative site for the sculpture as part of a new sea defences project in Portsmouth.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14252629/Memorial-Royal-Navys-ending-slave-trade-home.htmlReggie Burrows Hodges' exhibition "Authorities of Reason" is currently on display at 7351 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles until February 13, 2025. The show features paintings created during the artist's travels through European cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris, where he reflected on the connections between historical artworks and contemporary systems of violence. The works are characterized by their finely detailed depictions of everyday moments, often with a focus on the interplay between light and shadow. Hodges' distinctive use of a black ground in his paintings serves to both define and dissolve form and environment, inviting viewers to consider the nuances beneath the surface of his work.
https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/painting/reggie-burrows-hodges-authorities-of-reason-karma-los-angeles/Artist's use of tactile elements in their paintings allows viewers to experience the terrain depicted as if seen through the eyes of migratory birds, providing a deeper understanding of the landscape by incorporating synthetic and natural materials such as resin. This unique approach enables viewers to grasp the topography of the locations portrayed with a sense of three-dimensionality.
https://www.tbsnews.net/splash/epic-journey-migratory-bird-where-wings-meet-canvas-1036161A new art fair called the Santa Monica Post Office is set to take place in downtown Santa Monica, California, next month during Frieze Los Angeles. The event will feature 26 exhibitors and will be held in an Art Deco former post office building located near the main Frieze exhibition.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/01/06/santa-monica-post-office-satellite-fair-frieze-los-angelesBE OPEN Art, an online art gallery founded by humanitarian expert group BE OPEN led by Elena Baturina, is organizing its third consecutive year of the BE OPEN Regional Art competition. The competition aims to support emerging artists whose work best represents their regional, cultural and ethnic identities. In 2025, the BE OPEN community will select artists who best represent a region's artistic tradition to feature in the BE OPEN Art gallery and increase their visibility. The first stage of the third year's program will cover countries in South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. A winner from each region will receive 500 euros, selected by both public vote and a favorite chosen by the founder.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/be-open-art-lanza-la-primera-competicion-regional-de-2025-para-los-artistas-emergentes-del-sur-de-asia-302337857.htmlBE OPEN Art, an online gallery founded by Elena Baturina's humanitarian group BE OPEN, is hosting its third annual BE OPEN Regional Art competition to support emerging artists who represent their regional, cultural and ethnic identities. The competition will focus on South Asia for the first time this year, featuring artists from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. A winner will be selected in April and receive a 500 euro prize, as well as the founder's favorite award.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/be-open-art-lance-le-premier-concours-regional-de-2025-pour-soutenir-les-artistes-emergents-dasie-du-sud-302337860.htmlElena Baturina's humanitarian think tank BE OPEN has launched its third year of the regional art competition, BE OPEN Regional Art. The initiative aims to support emerging artists who best represent their region's cultural and ethnic identity. In the first phase of the program, which will last three months, seven South Asian countries - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka - will be featured. A regional winner from each country will receive a 500 Euro prize, chosen by a public vote. The competition runs parallel to BE OPEN Art's regular work, where experts select emerging artists for the online gallery based on their social awareness and aesthetic solutions to contemporary issues.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/be-open-art-lanciert-den-ersten-regionalen-wettbewerb-2025-zur-unterstutzung-aufstrebender-kunstler-in-sudasien-302337769.htmlElena Baturina's humanitarian think-tank BE OPEN has launched the third year of its Regional Art competition, which aims to support emerging artists from South Asia. The competition will feature artworks by 20 artists from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, with a public vote selecting the Regional Artist of the Month and ultimately the Artist of the Region. The winner will receive a €500 prize, in addition to a separate award chosen by the founder. This is part of BE OPEN Art's ongoing mission to promote emerging talent that emphasizes social consciousness and aesthetical solutions to contemporary issues.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/be-open-art-launches-the-first-regional-competition-of-2025-to-support-emerging-artists-of-south-asia-302337421.htmlA group of artists showcased their work in an exhibition that was officially opened by Prof Dr Rahat Naveed Masud, who praised the artist's innovative approach and the gallery's support for emerging talent. The event drew a large crowd of students, art enthusiasts, and other artists, and will remain on display until January 6, 2025.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1268796-painting-exhibition-begins