What Artists Need From Corporations Trying To Support Black Lives Matter Movements
Authentic collaboration is more relevant today than ever before
Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.
It’s already August, and I’m not sure anyone can truly articulate what this year has become. The collective experience of flattening the curve of the pandemic has turned into a collective movement of fighting against broken systems that have long protected and perpetuated the injustices against Black people, people of color, and the economically challenged around the globe. Even in social isolation, an important conversation for change continues to build momentum, and denial about anti-Black racism is no longer an option.
Apparently.
As an artist, I have received a fair amount of requests to use my work in “support of this moment.” I publicly shared one such instance in which I, along with a few artists, received a request to create a mural for Microsoft’s 5th Avenue store on short notice — “while the protests are still relevant.” It led to a deeper conversation about the exploitation of Black artists and the performative allyship of corporations when they try to address and participate in activism and moments of…
