Art Melanated Opens 'SAVAGE' Exhibition in LA
A new art exhibition titled “SAVAGE,” presented by Art Melanated, opened in Los Angeles on February 14. The show features emerging global artists and aims to provide fresh perspectives in contemporary art. The event positions Los Angeles as a key stage for collectors and culture enthusiasts.
- The exhibition is the culmination of the inaugural "SAVAGE" Emerging Artist Competition, which selected eleven finalists from a global pool of hundreds of submissions. One artist will be awarded a $10,000 grant at the end of the exhibition. - The event is named in honor of Augusta Savage, a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance who was a sculptor, educator, and activist. In 1939, she opened the Salon of Contemporary Negro Art in Harlem, becoming the first Black American woman to run an art gallery dedicated to Black artists. - The exhibition is juried by a panel of cultural leaders and collectors, including actor Hill Harper, Dr. Joy Simmons, Mashonda Tifrere, and Terrell Tilford. - Art Melanated was founded in 2021 by the husband-and-wife team Sol Aponte, a music and television professional, and Jennia Fredrique Aponte, an award-winning filmmaker. Their mission is to create a more inclusive cultural ecosystem for artists of the African diaspora. - The exhibition is being held at Band of Vices in the Los Angeles Arts District and will be on view until March 14, 2026. - Following the exhibition, Art Melanated will host its next Black Art Empowerment Summit in Los Angeles in February 2026, an event designed to foster connections between artists, collectors, and industry professionals.
