Open Air: Studio Visit with Artist Fahamu Pecou

Open Air was created to uplift Black artists while providing a space for their voices to be heard. For this episode of Open Air, join internationally acclaimed curator Dexter Wimberly for an intimate conversation and exclusive backstage studio tour with artist & scholar Dr. Fahamu Pecou.

Dr. Fahamu Pecou is an interdisciplinary artist and scholar whose works combine observations on hip-hop, fine art and popular culture. Pecou's paintings, performance art, and academic work addresses concerns around contemporary representations of Black masculinity and how these images impact both the reading and performance of Black masculinity. Join us for this episode of Open Air, as we explore Dr.Pecou's style and perspective on being an artist and scholar.

Note: This free virtual program will be streamed on the Gantt Center's official YouTube channel.

Fahamu received his BFA at the Atlanta College of Art in 1997 and a Ph.D. from Emory University in 2018. Dr. Pecou exhibits his art worldwide in addition to lectures and speaking engagements at colleges and universities. As an educator, Dr. Pecou has developed (ad)Vantage Point, a narrative-based arts curriculum focused on Black male youth. Pecou's work is featured in noted private and public national and international collections including; Smithsonian National Museum of African American Art and Culture, Societe Generale (Paris), Nasher Museum at Duke University, The High Museum of Art, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Seattle Art Museum, Paul R. Jones Collection, Clark Atlanta University Art Collection and Museum of Contemporary Art Georgia.

Pecou was recently named the inaugural Artist-in-Residence for the Atlanta Beltline. In 2017 he was the subject of a retrospective exhibition "Miroirs de l'Homme" in Paris, France. His work also appears in several films and television shows including; Black-ish, The Chi, and Lifetime's The 10th Date. He was also a recipient of the 2016 Joan Mitchell Foundation "Painters and Sculptors" Award.

Dexter Wimberly is an independent curator and entrepreneur who has organized exhibitions and developed programs with galleries and institutions throughout the world, including The Third Line in Dubai, Koki Arts in Tokyo and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City. His exhibitions have been reviewed and featured in publications including the New York Times, Artforum and Hyperallergic.

Wimberly has also served as Director of Strategic Planning at Independent Curators International in New York City. Prior to his curatorial career, Wimberly was the managing partner and CEO of August Bishop advertising agency, representing a diverse array of clients including Adidas, The Coca-Cola Company and HBO. In 2018, Wimberly founded ART WORLD CONFERENCE, a professional development company for visual artists and arts professionals, and serves as its CEO.