A place to be/come

 

Atlanta Art Fair
October 3-6, 2024

c/o Sam Bentley

dashboard was a cultural partner for the inaugural 2024 atlanta art fair, & presented a multimedia exhibition featuring experiential artists exploring themes from Atlanta’s past, present, and future.

As eyes look to the Southeast during shifting climates, Atlanta finds itself at a crossroads. Historically defined by its rich cultural legacy, the city now grapples with challenges to its political, social, and economic landscapes. Through the lens of those who have called Atlanta home, artists Ariel Dannielle, Ellex Swavoni, and Rosa Duffy reflect on the forces that shape the city's modern identity, highlighting the tension and harmony between its long-standing history and its evolving future.

 

Press

Artists

Ariel Dannielle

Ariel Dannielle (b. 1991) is an African-American painter born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She graduated from University of West Georgia, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Drawing directly from her life, Ariel creates large-scale paintings that depict the daily experiences of young Black women through her personal and playful lens. 

She believes in the importance of her artwork to provide a look into Black girlhood/womanhood that can be represented and understood. 

This acrylic archive has enabled her to explore aspects of the mundane, human vulnerability and sexuality. Influenced by Kerry James Marshall and Mickalene Thomas.

Dannielle focuses on developing personal narratives within her portraits that challenge gender and racial stereotypes. By placing herself in the paintings, Dannielle welcomes the viewers to also participate in a process of introspection.

Ellex Swavoni

Ellex Swavoni, born in 1992 in Louisville, Kentucky, embarked on her artistic journey at the age of nine when she discovered art toys online. This serendipitous encounter ignited a lifelong passion for sculpture. With resourcefulness and the power of the internet, Swavoni taught herself the art of sculpting and creating toy-like figurative sculptures. She pursued graphic design at Campbellsville University, earning a Bachelor of Science in 2014. During her studies, she developed an art practice focused on Afro-futurism, depicting women as powerful entities and reimagining ancient ideas through a futurist lens.

Her work often involves the use of computer programs, 3D printing, and fine finishes. In her process, Swavoni creates detailed sketches using computer programs, which are then 3D printed, meticulously programmed, and finished with fine paint details. This blend of traditional and digital techniques allows her to craft intricate, futuristic pieces that challenge conventional narratives. "With the courage and curiosity within us all, and a knowledge of recent and ancient histories, we can transcend standard thought and develop new realities for ourselves.

Rosa Duffy

Rosa Duffy is a multidisciplinary artist from Atlanta, GA. Duffy explores questions about the complex relationships between material objects, commodities, and personhood. Creating works with cut metal and cast iron adorned with jewelry, found photographs, concrete, and wire, her works balance industrial heft with poetic, emotionally charged ephemera. Her process and material choices evoke the intersecting histories of manual labor and vernacular craft, and address the persistence of racial inequalities amid the industrial working class and the contemporary art world alike.

All booth photos by Sam Bentley