Renowned American artist Derrick Adams has been announced as the latest addition to the roster of artists represented by Gagosian gallery. Known for his unique ability to explore the intersection between African American experiences, art history, and consumerism, Adams has gained global recognition for his vibrant and optimistic aesthetic, which depicts Black daily life in an expressive and colourful manner.
Portrait of Derrick Adams by Christopher Garcia Valle
As stated by Antwaun Sargent, a curator, and writer in an interview with ARTnews, “Derrick has always been someone that's been engaged in the art community, and it is an excitement for him to join the gallery because his mission and his vision is something that shouldn’t be shied away from and should be encouraged and enhanced as a gallery artist.”
Adams is set to hold his first solo exhibition with Gagosian at the gallery's Beverly Hills location in the summer of this year. His work will be exhibited alongside other artists represented by the gallery, such as Richard Artschwager, Louise Bonnet, John Currin, Jadé Fadojutimi, Urs Fischer, Katharina Grosse, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, and Andy Warhol.
Adams' art is currently gaining recognition for its dynamic and engaging representation of Black culture, and his unique approach has been well-received in the art community. His site-specific installations and public art projects have also attracted attention, and his upcoming projects are highly anticipated by art enthusiasts. He has previously exhibited Style Variations at Salon 94 Gallery in New York (2021), which showcases a collection of colorful portraits of Black women wearing elaborate hairstyles inspired by African art and culture, and Sanctuary at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York (2018), which recreates a fictional safe space for Black travelers during the Jim Crow era using mixed-media collages and sculptures.
Derrick Adams (b.1970), Style Variation 25, 2019. | Courtesy the artist, Luxembourg & Dayan, New York/London, Salon 94, New York.
Adams' representation by Gagosian gallery is expected to further propel his career, and his solo exhibition at the gallery later this year is sure to draw attention from collectors and art lovers alike.