At the heart of every artist’s journey is the seed of inspiration—an inner mantra that fuels creation and pushes through the vulnerability required to present one’s soul to the world. The Mantra exhibition draws its essence from the newest performance art project by Nike Athlete and Motivational Speaker - Angela Manuel Davis, whose work embodies the transformative power of personal and collective growth. Each artist in this show reflects the idea that creation itself is an intimate, evolving meditation, shaped by their individual experiences and cultural narratives.
Ashley Cole is deeply inspired by the music of her childhood and her father's love of Jazz. Her art, much like the improvisational spirit of Jazz itself, is free-flowing, expressive and unapologetically personal. Irvin Pascal, an Afro-Caribbean artist, remains anchored in the colors, forms, and cultural identity of his heritage. His work celebrates the uniqueness of his community while reflecting a dynamic relationship with the self and the world around him.
Bianca Walker brings a poignant narrative to the Mantra exhibition by delving into communal bonds formed during the era of slavery. Her work shields light on a period often defined solely by pain and suffering, yet Walker emphasizes the presence of life, resilience, and stregth within these communities. Through her art, she captures moments of connection, defiance, and hope, reminding us that even in the darkest times, humanity finds a way to persevere. Walker's time at the Joan Mitchell Residency profoundly informs her practice, allowing her to explore the power of collective memory and resilience. Her pieces reflect the unspoken stories of survival and solidarity, offering a visual mantra of endurance and shared strength amidst adversity. Fiker Solomon draws from the natural world to explore the cyclical nature of our emotions and experiences. Her work reflects on how, as children, we are attuned to the simple joys of nature—sun, mud, seasons—and how, as adults, we encounter the complex interplay of competition, sorrow, joy, and disappointment. Chidinma Nnoli’s piece focuses on the embodied experience of a single subject, contemplating the emotional link between body and space, often revealing conflicts rooted in cultural, gendered and religious obligations.
A key highlight of the Mantra exhibition will be a special live performance by Angela Manuel Davis, featuring selections from her yet to be released album - Supreme Intention, produced in collaboration with her partner, Josiah Bell. The gallery will be transformed into an immersive space where visual art and music interlace, this connection between sound and sight will offer visitors a multisensory experience to explore their own journeys of growth, vulnerability, and self-discovery.
