BAM
black art matters
juneteenth
pop up
black art matters
juneteenth
pop up
the BAM Pop Up is a pop-up event made for BLACK CREATORS that look to showcase and sell their work.
the BONNETHEAD COLLECTIVE* participated by showcasing and selling artwork by notable BIPOC photographers (credited below).
the curation (by Marcus Hardy) did not have a specific theme but aimed to give BLACK photographers the opportunity to showcase their work to potential customers and art-goers.
the collective's coveted SNAP N' GO was also in the booth with a great turnout
the BONNETHEAD COLLECTIVE* participated by showcasing and selling artwork by notable BIPOC photographers (credited below).
the curation (by Marcus Hardy) did not have a specific theme but aimed to give BLACK photographers the opportunity to showcase their work to potential customers and art-goers.
the collective's coveted SNAP N' GO was also in the booth with a great turnout
main video
edited & recorded by marcus hardy & anderson fortune
teasers
edited & recorded by marcus hardy & anderson fortune
participants
all artists that showcased their work and the works that were shown
the town jeweler
anderson fortune jr
Being an alumni, I truly understand the hardship produced from stress and the remaining feeling of incompletion that derives on and off campus!
The feeling that you may not make it through the semester due to financial shortcomings or unexpected circumstances that interrupt the academic experience. Community is a word that embodies the togetherness of Black people and emboldens the spirit to creative.
As you constantly survey and embrace your community, you’ll always find something to photograph or write a poem about. Being a photographer, I think that capturing people in their joyous state and allowing them to express themselves can very well enhance the community on and off campus!
The feeling that you may not make it through the semester due to financial shortcomings or unexpected circumstances that interrupt the academic experience. Community is a word that embodies the togetherness of Black people and emboldens the spirit to creative.
As you constantly survey and embrace your community, you’ll always find something to photograph or write a poem about. Being a photographer, I think that capturing people in their joyous state and allowing them to express themselves can very well enhance the community on and off campus!
I believe that my work provides a very niche look into the life of a Black creative. As an avid project conceptualist and “journalistic chronicler”, I implement subjectivity into a lot of my work and always find an entrancing way to broaden the perspective suited to the audience! Specializing in what I refer to as “introspective portraiture”, I write down what I may see in front of me and fictionalize the reality to a point in which the person in the photograph becomes art itself. I predominantly photograph family and friends, but
I’d love to widen my own boundaries for the inclusion of all figures. I truly do believe that Black Art DOES matter!
I’d love to widen my own boundaries for the inclusion of all figures. I truly do believe that Black Art DOES matter!
awane boukpessi
I long for the ability to capture the world through the unique perspective granted to me through my own living.
Everything I do, see, and create couldn’t have l my been done by anyone else but me. That isn’t a compliment, but simply the most common attribute of myself and every human being.
Every photo I take and edit is born from that perspective. I believe every perspective is irreplaceable and find it to be my duty to record mine.
I don’t intend for any of my pieces to be masterpieces, but only for them to be me.
Art is only meant to be as long as it means something, and mine simply means me. A single sneeze, a late bus, inconvenient rain, I love you spoken for the 100th time, favorite dish eaten, person met, exam failed, and time wasted, led to what I’ve made.
Everything I do, see, and create couldn’t have l my been done by anyone else but me. That isn’t a compliment, but simply the most common attribute of myself and every human being.
Every photo I take and edit is born from that perspective. I believe every perspective is irreplaceable and find it to be my duty to record mine.
I don’t intend for any of my pieces to be masterpieces, but only for them to be me.
Art is only meant to be as long as it means something, and mine simply means me. A single sneeze, a late bus, inconvenient rain, I love you spoken for the 100th time, favorite dish eaten, person met, exam failed, and time wasted, led to what I’ve made.
nia green
Up until a few months ago, when someone would ask what I was, I would say, “I’m Jamaican.” Which in itself isn’t a lie. But it completely neglects the other half of me. Because I spent most of my childhood with my Jamaican grandparents and my mom's side of the family,
I felt a strong connection to my Jamaican lineage and background. Most of my dad’s family moved to the south, so I don’t get to see them very often. In a recent interview, I said that I grew up in a Jamaican household. After my mom read it, she told me, “Nia, remember you’re not just Jamaican. You’re Jamaican and African-American. Never forget your father's side.” It took me up until recently to truly appreciate and recognize my African-American side and my southern roots.
My dad's family is from North Carolina. There’s a unique beauty within southern culture. A serenity and charm that you can’t find anywhere else. And even though I don’t see my dad’s side of the family every day, I feel them with me every day. I taste it in the food my dad cooks. I hear it when I listen to Al Green and Stevie Wonder. I’m neither fully Jamaican, nor fully African-American but the blend of these two heritages within me creates a beautiful brand new culture that I can celebrate and pass down onto my children.
But I believe that a lot of Black Americans have trouble identifying with the “American” part of them. I think African-Americans have so much trouble claiming their “Americaness” today because of the implications that it comes with. As Black people, we don’t call ourselves “Black Americans” or “African Americans.” We just call ourselves Black. The American flag has turned into a symbol of hatred and martyrdom. Why would one want to identify with that? Very often, when we ask why we should be proud to be American, we are told something along the lines of “It’s always worse somewhere else” or “We have it better than other countries.”
We are taught to only appreciate our Americanness in the context of comparison. And I’m not saying we should always be proud to be American. But why can’t we change the definition of what it means to be one? Being American is a beautiful thing to me. It means my grandparents' journey of immigrating to the U.S to give their family a better life was successful.
I felt a strong connection to my Jamaican lineage and background. Most of my dad’s family moved to the south, so I don’t get to see them very often. In a recent interview, I said that I grew up in a Jamaican household. After my mom read it, she told me, “Nia, remember you’re not just Jamaican. You’re Jamaican and African-American. Never forget your father's side.” It took me up until recently to truly appreciate and recognize my African-American side and my southern roots.
My dad's family is from North Carolina. There’s a unique beauty within southern culture. A serenity and charm that you can’t find anywhere else. And even though I don’t see my dad’s side of the family every day, I feel them with me every day. I taste it in the food my dad cooks. I hear it when I listen to Al Green and Stevie Wonder. I’m neither fully Jamaican, nor fully African-American but the blend of these two heritages within me creates a beautiful brand new culture that I can celebrate and pass down onto my children.
But I believe that a lot of Black Americans have trouble identifying with the “American” part of them. I think African-Americans have so much trouble claiming their “Americaness” today because of the implications that it comes with. As Black people, we don’t call ourselves “Black Americans” or “African Americans.” We just call ourselves Black. The American flag has turned into a symbol of hatred and martyrdom. Why would one want to identify with that? Very often, when we ask why we should be proud to be American, we are told something along the lines of “It’s always worse somewhere else” or “We have it better than other countries.”
We are taught to only appreciate our Americanness in the context of comparison. And I’m not saying we should always be proud to be American. But why can’t we change the definition of what it means to be one? Being American is a beautiful thing to me. It means my grandparents' journey of immigrating to the U.S to give their family a better life was successful.
What does it mean to you?
mosthigh
Jaire McAllister
My photography style is all about capturing the raw, unfiltered truth of the streets and the underground scene.
When I'm holding the camera for @mosthigh.films, I lean heavily into high-contrast, moody lighting and gritty textures that make you feel the actual temperature of a New York night.
I don't look for polished, perfect poses; I chase candid, high-energy moments in the middle of the crowd, the backstage chaos, and the authentic hustle of Brooklyn.
It is a mix of cinematic storytelling and documentary-style realism, using sharp angles and deep shadows to give independent Black art the epic, legendary feel it deserves.
When I'm holding the camera for @mosthigh.films, I lean heavily into high-contrast, moody lighting and gritty textures that make you feel the actual temperature of a New York night.
I don't look for polished, perfect poses; I chase candid, high-energy moments in the middle of the crowd, the backstage chaos, and the authentic hustle of Brooklyn.
It is a mix of cinematic storytelling and documentary-style realism, using sharp angles and deep shadows to give independent Black art the epic, legendary feel it deserves.
kevin jackson
Hey! I’m Kevin, and I’m a photographer! I was born in DC and grew up in Bowie, MD. I am based out of Queens, NY.
I started taking photos the summer after I graduated from NYU in 2018 with a computer science degree. At first, it was a fun summer hobby, something to do with my friends, and an excuse to walk around and explore the city.
That summer would turn what I thought was a hobby into something more. Some time passed, and I got into my first group show in early 2020. Once that happened, I realized the power of art in bringing people together and inspired myself to start taking photography seriously.
Since then, my art has been exhibited at NYU, The Salmagundi Club, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Blank Wall Gallery in Athens, Decode Gallery in Arizona, Bushwick Gallery, Bedstuy Art House, AM:PM Gallery, and LoosenArt at the Millepiani Gallery in Rome.
That summer would turn what I thought was a hobby into something more. Some time passed, and I got into my first group show in early 2020. Once that happened, I realized the power of art in bringing people together and inspired myself to start taking photography seriously.
Since then, my art has been exhibited at NYU, The Salmagundi Club, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Blank Wall Gallery in Athens, Decode Gallery in Arizona, Bushwick Gallery, Bedstuy Art House, AM:PM Gallery, and LoosenArt at the Millepiani Gallery in Rome.
TRUTHIS
Kemi Karim
My work is rooted in the language of belonging — the quiet ways we build home within ourselves and each other.
I come from a lineage of Southern Black migrants who journeyed north and raised me in Brooklyn, carrying with them the faith, values, and rituals of the South. Woven into that foundation are threads of my Nigerian and Ivorian heritage, guiding me toward a fuller understanding of identity, spirituality, and memory.
madlyhopelessmisfits
Marcus Hardy
Hey there!
My name is Marcus Hardy. I am a lover of photography, design, and all things representation.
As the leader and founder of the Bonnethead Collective, this collective aims to provide support and love to underappreciated artists in New York City.
I am so proud not only to see that the collective has transcended from St. John's, but also to see people gather to be part of the message! My message has always been about bringing representation to the table and bringing a sense of community with the collective and my photography.
These photos are some of the best I've put out in recent months, through different mediums, with different messages, angles, and subjects; these paintings bring such warmth and love to me. I hope you enjoy the show, and thank you for reading this!
My name is Marcus Hardy. I am a lover of photography, design, and all things representation.
As the leader and founder of the Bonnethead Collective, this collective aims to provide support and love to underappreciated artists in New York City.
I am so proud not only to see that the collective has transcended from St. John's, but also to see people gather to be part of the message! My message has always been about bringing representation to the table and bringing a sense of community with the collective and my photography.
These photos are some of the best I've put out in recent months, through different mediums, with different messages, angles, and subjects; these paintings bring such warmth and love to me. I hope you enjoy the show, and thank you for reading this!
