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Exhibitions

Devin Allen – The Textures of Us: A Retrospective…

The Textures of Us: A Retrospective by Devin Allen
October 25, 2024 – January 18, 2025

Devin Allen, Untitled – Baltimore, The Texture That Made Us Series, 2023
Images courtesy the artist and Galerie Myrtis
Opening Reception
October 25, 2024
6:00 – 8:00 pm

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Writer’s Talk
November 23, 2024
2:00 – 4:00 pm

Youth Photo Walk & Talk
December 7, 2024
2:00 – 4:00 pm (Youth participants only)
4:00 – 6:00 pm (Discussion open to all)

Tea with Myrtis (Registration Required)
NEW DATE: January 18, 2025
2:00 – 4:00 pm

“The Textures of Us” is an early retrospective celebrating the release of Allen’s third book, Devin Allen: Baltimore, featuring writings from Salamishah Tillet, D. Watkins, Darnell Moore, and Peter Kunhardt Jr. This exhibition highlights Allen’s impactful photojournalism in Baltimore, capturing a range of scenes from protests against police brutality to moments of tranquility in the lives of Black citizens.

The exhibit encompasses a diverse collection of works from the past decade of Allen’s career, showcasing excerpts from his forthcoming book, along with previously unreleased images, video collages, and works from his mentees.

Baltimore native Devin Allen is an acclaimed photographer and author who captures the richness and struggles of African American life. His powerful images offer a nuanced portrayal of Black life in Baltimore and advocate for social equity by documenting civil demonstrations.

A key aspect of Allen’s work is his documentation of national protests against police brutality. He first gained recognition for his coverage of the Baltimore Uprising following the death of Freddie Gray in 2015. His photographs were featured on the cover of Time Magazine in both 2015 and 2020, making him the third amateur photographer in history to receive this honor. Allen’s commitment to social justice has also been acknowledged through Gordon Parks Foundation Fellowships in 2017 and 2023. His photos from these protests and Baltimore inspired his books A Beautiful Ghetto and No Justice, No Peace: From the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter.

Writer’s Talk
November 23, 2024
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Join Devin Allen and award-winning writer D. Watkins to explore the themes of the forthcoming book Devin Allen: Baltimore and discuss the stories behind the featured images. This free event requires registration, as seating is limited.

Youth Photo Walk & Talk
December 7, 2024
2:00 – 4:00 pm (Youth participants only)
4:00 – 6:00 pm (Discussion open to all)

Tea with Myrtis (Registration Required)
NEW DATE: January 18, 2025
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Join us for Tea with Myrtis, an intimate conversation between Devin Allen and Dr. Myrtis Bedolla. During this special event, Allen will share the stories and inspirations behind his forthcoming book, Devin Allen: Baltimore, while providing insight into his creative process. Tea with Myrtis is an art salon series that engages artists, collectors, and arts professionals in conversations about trends in contemporary art. This is a ticketed event with limited seating.

Exhibitions

Delita Martin Sometimes My Blues Change Colors

Sometimes My Blues Change Colors

The Me I Must Remember, 2023
Relief Printing, Charcoal, Acrylic, Liquid gold leaf, Printed Papers, Hand stitching, Pastels
59 x 63 ″, by Delita Martin

Solo Exhibition – Delita Martin
view exhibition catalog

LOCATION: Featherstone Center for the Arts
30 Featherstone Lane (Martha’s Vineyard)
Oak Bluffs, MA, 02557
508-693-1850

Opening Reception
July 28th, 4:00 – 6:00 pm.

Exhibition
July 28 – September 1, 2024

POSTED AT FEATHERSTONEART.COM:
The exhibit marks a historic milestone as Delita Martin is the inaugural African American artist to present a solo exhibition in the Francine Kelly Gallery at Featherstone Center for the Arts. Curated by Dr. Myrtis Bedolla, this groundbreaking exhibit, opens its doors on Sunday, July 28th, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

As part of the exhibition’s programming, Martin will engage in a conversation with Dr. Bedolla during an Artist Talk scheduled for Wednesday, July 31st, from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. This dialogue promises to provide invaluable insights into Martin’s artistic process and inspirations, offering attendees a deeper understanding of her visionary creations. Events are free and open to the public.

Additionally, a program in collaboration with the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) will take place on Thursday, August 1st, beginning at 4:00 p.m. Martin and Dalila Scruggs, SAAM’s Augusta Savage Curator of African American Art, will discuss Elizabeth Catlett’s art and legacy.

Exhibitions

Extensions Solo Exhibition by Monica Ikegwu

Extensions

Chukwuemeka 1 (left) and Chukwuemeka 2 (right), 2023, Oil on canvas, 48 x 36”, by Monica Ikegwu

Solo Exhibition – Monica Ikegwu
August 17 – September 28, 2024

Opening Reception
August 17th, 2:00 – 6:00 pm.

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Programming
Tea with Myrtis
Saturday, September 21st, Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Ticketed event – details below

Galerie Myrtis is delighted to present “Extensions,” the inaugural solo exhibition by acclaimed artist Monica Ikegwu. The opening reception will take place on Saturday, August 17, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm.

In “Extensions,” Ikegwu’s masterful execution of hyperrealist portrayals of African Americans delves into the complexities and joys of their life experiences. Her paintings reveal the duality of her subjects, exuding confidence and composure while also displaying introspection and moments of joy. Ikegwu captures the subjects’ outward personas and inner essences with fluid brushstrokes and vivid hues. Set against monochromatic backgrounds that subtly add depth and dimension to the composition. The artist’s work is both striking and profoundly insightful.

Artist’s Statement
“In the hustle of daily life, how many people do you truly see? A handful? Maybe hundreds? Each fleeting glance offers only a fragmented snapshot of who they are in that moment. In my exhibition, Extensions, I explore the dynamic nature of human demeanor, attitude, and character, seeking to capture the complexity that lies beyond a single visual impression.

Through my hyper-realistic portraits of African Americans, I ask my subjects to reveal two distinct facets of their identity, each contributing to a holistic understanding of their persona. This duality encourages us to reconsider how we define and perceive individuals. What we see is just one dimension, but as we delve deeper and truly engage with others, we uncover the multiple layers of their personalities, which often manifest subtly in their appearance.

Having access to these less visible aspects of people transforms our perception of them. It enriches our understanding and fosters a deeper connection.

Moreover, this exploration extends to the concept of interconnectedness. Our identity can be reflected in those close to us—whether it’s a child, a sibling, or a friend. These relationships act as extensions of ourselves, revealing facets of our identity that might not be immediately apparent on the surface.

My work invites you to look beyond the surface and appreciate the multifaceted nature of human identity, ultimately challenging and enriching your perception of those around you.” – Monica Ikegwu

Programing
Tea with Myrtis
Saturday, September 21st, Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
SOLD OUT

Biography

Monica Ikegwu (b.1998, Baltimore, Maryland) is a figurative painter. Ikegwu earned a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and an MFA from the New York Academy of Art.

In presenting the notion of the Black figure that is captivating and unconventional, Ikegwu uses color, fluid lines, and textured backgrounds to compose hyperrealist imagery. The concepts for her paintings stem from her surroundings, experiences, and encounters with people in Baltimore. The subjects presented in Ikegwu’s paintings are often her friends, siblings, and other family members from whom she draws her inspiration as she watches them progress through life.

Ikegwu is among the eight African American artists featured in the 2022 Venice Biennale exhibition The Afro-Futurist Manifesto: Blackness Reimagined, curated by Myrtis Bedolla of Galerie Myrtis. The exhibit explores the theme of Black life on the continuum of its imagined future presented in the Personal Structures art fair.

Ikegwu earned first place in the XL Catlin Art prize (2018), was a YoungArts Finalist (2017), a Gold medal winner in the NAACP ACT-SO National competition (2016), and a Scholastic silver medal portfolio winner (2016). Her work was exhibited at the XL Catlin Art Prize traveling exhibition and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in 2018.

Photograph by Lia Latty

Artist

Devin Allen biography

Biography

Devin Allen (born 1988, Baltimore, Maryland) is an award-winning, self-taught photographer and artist. He gained international acclaim in May 2015 when one of his photographs of the Baltimore Uprising was published on the cover of TIME magazine, making him the third amateur photographer to have his work featured in the publication. Since then, his work has been presented in solo and group exhibitions at the Baltimore Museum of Art, The Peale, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History & Culture in Baltimore, and the Gordon Parks Foundation in New York, among others, and is in the collections of National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, D.C., the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art in Auburn, Alabama. Allen’s photographs have also been featured in New York magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Aperture, and on a second TIME cover in 2020. His accolades include the first Gordon Parks Foundation Fellowship in 2017, an NAACP Image Award nomination for his book, A Beautiful Ghetto (Haymarket Books, September 2017), and the Gordon Parks Foundation/Steidl Book Prize in 2023.

Allen is also the founder of Through Their Eyes, a youth photography educational program, and was recognized by the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture in 2019 for his arts and activism leadership. His latest book, No Justice, No Peace: From the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter, was released in 2022 under the Legacy Lit imprint of Hachette Book Group. In 2020, he was named an ambassador for Leica Camera AG—an international, premium manufacturer of cameras and sports optics. His forthcoming book, Baltimore, will be published by Steidl in June 2025.

Artist

Devin Allen

Devin Allen, a self-taught artist from Baltimore, rose to prominence when his photograph from the Baltimore Uprising appeared on TIME magazine’s cover in May 2015, marking him as only the third amateur photographer to achieve this distinction.

In 2017, he was appointed the inaugural fellow of the Gordon Parks Foundation Fellowship and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for his debut book, “A Beautiful Ghetto” (Haymarket Books).

Devin’s commitment to social justice was further recognized when he was named a 2020 Ambassador for Leica Camera AG. Following the tragic deaths tragic deaths of George Floyd, Tony McDade, and Breonna Taylor, his work once again took center stage. TIME featured his poignant photograph from a Black Trans Lives Matter protest on their June 2020 cover, a testament to the power of his lens in capturing the spirit of the moment and the urgency of the cause.

Devin’s evocative portrayals of Black life have not only captivated the hearts of many but have also been showcased in major publications such as New York Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Aperture. His photographs, a testament to his unique perspective and artistic prowess, are held in high regard and are part of the permanent collections at prestigious institutions, including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, the Jule Collins Smith Museum, and The Studio Museum in Harlem.

Untitled, 2020
photo by Devin Allen

Artist

Moon in Scorpio featuring Megan Lewis

Moon in Scorpio

Everything begins with a thought, 2023, Oil and acrylic on canvas 48″ x 60″

Solo Exhibition – Megan Lewis
May 11th – July 20, 2024

Opening Reception
May 11th, 2:00 – 6:00 pm.

Programming
July 20th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
Artist Talk with Megan Lewis (SOLD OUT!)
Want to get on the WAIT List?
Email ky@galeriemyrtis.net

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Galerie Myrtis proudly presents “Moon in Scorpio,” the inaugural solo exhibition by acclaimed artist Megan Lewis. The opening reception will be held at Galerie Myrtis, 2224 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday, May 11th from 2:00 ‐ 6:00 pm. The opening is free, and all are welcome. No appointment is necessary to attend.

“In ‘Moon and Scorpio,’ I delve into the emotional depth and passion of predominantly male figures as they contemplate life’s intricacies. Through my work, I explore themes of personal growth, transformation, and the pursuit of lessons learned. Drawing inspiration from my hometown of Baltimore, I weave together nonlinear, imaginative, and realistic scenes using collage, fabric and photography, enhanced by texture, color, glitter, and pattern. Resilient and transformative, Scorpio Moon individuals have a natural inclination towards self-improvement and personal growth. The Scorpio Moon tends to keep their emotions bottled up, not expressing much, which ends up leading them to run to extremes. This body of work serves as a release.

My subjects fearlessly confront their shadows, embracing change, diving deep into the wilderness of their emotions, unafraid, through stillness and contemplation, with an intensity that remains palpable. It’s a time for reflecting on the past and releasing the old to make way for the new. They are naturally inclined towards transformation and personal growth. They are not afraid to confront their shadows and work through challenges. Their approach involves deep self-reflection, embracing change, and using their emotional depth as a tool for self-discovery and improvement.” – Megan Lewis

Programing
Artist Talk featuring Megan Lewis
July 20th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm.

Artist Talk featuring Megan Lewis in dialogue with Dr. Myrtis Bedolla. Through her art, Lewis challenges viewers to examine their biases and assumptions, fostering a deeper conversation about the complexities of the human experience. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the transformative impact of Megan Lewis’s work and contribute to the dialogue on Black masculinity in today’s society. The artist’s talk is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. RSVP is required to attend (registration details to be announced).

Megan Lewis (b. 1989, Baltimore, MD) is an accomplished painter known for using various mediums to create paintings that delve into critical perspectives on social, historical, and cultural issues related to Black life. Her recent body of work explores the Black male experience, particularly within the context of Baltimore.

Through her vivid and evocative compositions, Lewis provides viewers with thought-provoking portrayals of the daily lives of men in her community. Her artworks, whether based on real-life experiences or imagined scenarios, offer a window into the multifaceted ways men of the African diaspora navigate the world.

In her paintings, Lewis captures the universal truth of the shared concerns that Black men face in their lives, including the desire to assert their personhood, gain respect, and challenge the stereotypical beliefs and biases that often shape perceptions of who they are. Her work thus serves as a powerful reflection of the challenges and triumphs of Black men in their quest for dignity, recognition, and the dismantling of harmful stereotypes.

Artist

Jerrell Gibbs – Statement

Statement

Jerrell Gibbs explores the complexities of life by investigating his personal experiences and those of his family and friends. Ultimately working to evoke the emotions that one experiences during the maturation time period from a child to an adult. In this way, through his work he finds ways to cope and re-examine the past. While simultaneously examining present realities of living in the twenty-first century as a Black male.

Gibbs is committed to creating paintings that are both authentic and truthful. His paintings highlight: joy, beauty, and the mundane, all components within the vastness of life. The compositions, which are often taken from his family archive, focus on the placement, scale, and proportion, as much as they do on mark-making and painterly gestures. Gibbs aims to re-create the emotional sensation associated with life experiences offering viewers the opportunity to reflect on universal moments we all share.

Man at Peace, 2022
Oil, acrylic, oil stick on canvas
48 x 48 ″

Artist

Good Fences: Neighboring Narratives of the Soul

Good Fences: Neighboring Narratives of the Soul

Solo Exhibition – Lavett Ballard
March 30 – May 4, 2024

Opening Reception
March 30th, 4:00 – 6:00 pm.

| view artwork |

Programming
April 20th, 4:00 – 6:00 pm.
Join us for an enlightening conversation with featured artist Lavett Ballard, moderated by exhibition curator and founding director of Galerie Myrtis, Dr. Myrtis Bedolla.

Galerie Myrtis proudly presents Good Fences: Neighboring Narratives of the Soul, a solo exhibition featuring renowned collage artist Lavett Ballard. The exhibit offers a survey of Ballard’s career long practice of embellishing reclaimed wood fences with images taken from historical archives, along with paints, woodburning, and precious metals. These mixed media collages re-contextualize the historical socio-cultural challenges experienced by people of color.

Ballard has had the esteemed honor of being commissioned by Time Magazine to create a portrait of civil rights activist Rosa Parks for the “100 Women of the Year” edition. The artwork, titled “The Bus Riders,” was published on March 16, 2020. In 2023, Time Magazine approached Ballard again to create a visual narrative for an editorial written by Isabel Wilkerson. The mixed media collages, titled “Caste and Chaos,” were chosen to appear in the February 3, 2023, “Division and Destiny” issue. The same issue also featured a cover story on Ballard’s artistic process, written by Victor Williams.

Good Fences: Neighboring Narratives of the Soul sheds light on the role of fences in my artistic practice, particularly in addressing social and cultural challenges faced by people of color. I use wooden fences as powerful symbols representing both division and protection. They embody the passage of time through the grains of the wood, while also signifying the potential for renewal and transformation. Through my artwork, I aim to visually articulate and celebrate the shared experiences of the African diaspora, highlighting how our collective stories connect us to our ancestors and the broader global community.” – Lavett Ballard

Programing
Artist Talk featuring Lavett Ballard
April 20th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with featured artist Lavett Ballard, moderated by exhibition curator and founding director of Galerie Myrtis, Dr. Myrtis Bedolla. The discussion will delve into Ballard’s ongoing use of reclaimed wood, the historical underpinnings of collage, and the importance of uplifting the stories of underrepresented people in her work. Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to present their thought-provoking questions to the artist.

Artist Talk

SAAM Presents – Championing Black Art: A Conversation with…

Smithsonian American Art Museum
Championing Black Art: A Conversation with Myrtis Bedolla

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Gallerist, curator, and art advisor Myrtis Bedolla brings her popular “Tea with Myrtis” event to SAAM in this rich panel discussion. The series is inspired by a deep appreciation for the transformative power of art and a desire to create a space where meaningful conversations about contemporary art can thrive. A passionate leader and champion of promoting and collecting African American art, Bedolla engages in a lively conversation with art collectors, scholars, and arts professionals. Participants include Mel Hardy, art collector and co-founder of DC-based organization Millennium Arts Salon; Leslie King-Hammond, art historian and founding director of the Center for Race and Culture at the Maryland Institute College of Art; Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent Director of SAAM; and Lowery Stokes Sims, art historian. This program was presented in person and online at the Smithsonian American Art Museum on Saturday, February 25, 2024.