Celebrity Coverage
2024 David C. Driskell Awards Gala: Naomi Beckwith Continues to Highlight African American Art and its Untold Stories
Photo: David Head, courtesy of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
Atlanta’s art scene has grown lately thanks to the town’s stellar list of galleries and shops, in addition to the emergence of Atlanta Art Week. Among the growing creative community, the David C. Driskell Awards is a crowning jewel. The nineteenth annual ceremony honored Naomi Beckwith, who in 2021 became the Guggenheim Museum’s first Black deputy director and chief curator. Her efforts in the sphere of African American art have been invaluable and exude all the pieces that this coveted award embodies.
Founded by High Art Museum in 2005, the Driskell Prize recognizes groundbreaking contributions to black art from among the nation’s leading scholars and artists. Due to its prestige, the annual gala gathers the best and brightest participants on this planet of art. This 12 months, the event began with a trendy red carpet, where participants could immortalize this evening for a lifetime. With celebrities including Valerie Cassel Oliver, Tanya Sam, Egypt Sherrod, Charly Palmer, Jeezy, Sergio Hudson and more, the 2024 event was set to turn out to be probably the most memorable in its history.
After a pre-gala cocktail reception within the museum’s atrium, guests were ushered into the major hall where the awards ceremony was to begin. After taking their seats, everyone could enjoy appetizers and dishes inspired by Southern cuisine. Randall Suffolk, director of the High Museum of Art, soon took the rostrum, emphasized the importance of the Driskell Award and introduced the centerpiece of the evening – Naomi Beckwith.
Beckwith appeared on stage and was rewarded with a sea of applause. She began by thanking the jury and showing gratitude for being chosen for such an honorable distinction. The Chicago native also spoke about Dr. Driskell’s legacy and how vital effective collaboration is for artists and curators. “I believe in this practice of working together,” she said during her moving speech. “I believe in collectivity because I know that for Black people especially, collectivity has been our strength and actually the source of our joy.”
The Courtauld graduate then spoke concerning the obstacles artists of color have had to overcome over time and the way it continues to motivate her work. “My job is to bring the gift of Black art and Black artists to the world, so until we truly see the canon of Black art history permeating global institutions, I will have no rest,” Beckwith said. She concluded by thanking her friends, colleagues, family and partner before delivering an ode to the award. “I am incredibly happy to hold this award so close to my heart,” she stated. “I make a public promise to all of you in this field that I will honor the legacy of this award, this gift and this work.”
After Beckwith’s speech, the celebration continued with an official afterparty featuring DJ Princess Cut and Grammy Award-winning DJ Drama. In attendance were Eva Marcille, Killer Mike, Tyler Mitchell and Ebony G. Patterson, amongst others, making the first-ever post-gala celebration truly memorable.
The David C. Driskell Award is the primary within the nation to recognize the importance of African-American art. This award alternates between an African-American artist based within the United States and an art historian whose artistic practice or scholarly work makes an original and vital contribution to the visual arts and black art studies.
ASKRS> Keke Palmer
Time is now for essentially the most fashionable moments in celebrity between Fashion Week, a season of prizes and magazine covers. Meanwhile, some glances required a full GLAM team once we finished a month and Valentine’s Day, sleeping hair and romantic manicures are still strong.
For example Black flexible headband. With an analogous volume Honey Afro Janet Jackson was entwined with a red gel manicure to enhance the golden accents. Then the model Alva Claire attended Baft in a fragile UPDO, which combined her curved, thin eyebrows and a blue-winged insert.
Makeup Artist Dee Carrion was chargeable for the golden lips and teeth in the quilt. Then Coco Jones’s hair was soaked in water – glass lids and lips added to the appearance. As for TEMS? The shiny French manicure was cherry on its siren and hot chocolate gloss.
And those that participated within the NAACP rewards didn’t come either. Keke Palmer has turn into viral not only due to touching speech of “Artist of the Year”, but additionally due to her to knock out beauty: elegant red hair and gothic makeup makeup.
Sheryl Lee Ralph was on her “suit and draw” that night. Saisha Beecham Saisha Beecham worked on shiny magic, as she put it, “Sixty Fine” within the years. Finally, the hair artist Larry Sims gave the Gabrielle Union museum by some means Bobów. He wrote within the signature “It gives a film star”. And we couldn’t agree more.
If you missed this, take a look at the very best moments of beauty from the week.
“At that time we only had acrylic,” Angie Aguirre says Essence, who puts ESPY-Jones in the primary episode. “We didn’t have a number of things we have today.” Starting the series, in honor of the Black History of the month, Aguirre, nail artist Sha’carri Richardson, resembles a black story for extremely long nails-at the identical time spreading techniques from the past.
From memories of curved acrylics on Flo Jo of the Eighties to the red manicure in Donn Summer, and even the nail of Stiletto from the Nineteen Thirties about Queen Nenzim from the Democratic Republic of Congo, manicure for construction has a wealthy history hidden behind every decorating extension.
Using the attention shadows as a substitute of the airbrush machine (which within the Nineteen Nineties was a big, loud pedal machine), she recreated one of the vital popular styles that has since appeared today as a preferred look.
Often appropriated in popular culture long, loud nails are historically called “ghetto” as an offensive statement after they wear black women. Meanwhile, they are sometimes seen as fashionable after they wear white celebrities.
“We usually set up trends [and] People kick, “says Aguirre within the film while painting about traditional nail art visible within the Nineteen Nineties.” When pop culture gets it, they change what they want to be like that. ” However, “black women wore these nails long before social media.”
Now that the nail industry is to succeed in USD 36.27 billion until 2032Aguirre explains the influence that black women have on beauty and what the longer term of those historical manicures will seem like. “Nail game has become very innovative,” he says, with latest products reminiscent of Gel-X. “[It’s] It is very different from what was during the day. “
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
On Monday, at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills A Who’s Who of New Stars, Hot Talent and Legends was at hand to honor the best in black talent on the screen for the American Black Film Festival awards. Honores for the Night to Aaron Pierre, who received the Rising Star award (while the crowd sang: “Aaron Pierre, to Mufasaaaa”), Essence Black Women in Hollywood Honree Marla Gibbs, who received the Hollywood Legacy award, Keke Palmer caught the Renaissan prize. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor received the same honor for girls.
Many people got here out to have fun, including presenters Ava DuverNay, Anthony Mackie, Boots Riley, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Regina King. But in Hollywood there have been many stars and massive names, which also got here out with their partners to enjoy the annual event. They began a blue rug with sweet PDA and good vibrations, able to enjoy an important night.
From Larenz Tate and Tomasina’s wife to Dondre Whitfield and Salla Richardson Whitfield, Loretta Devine and husband Glenn Marshall, Lance and Rebecca Gross, and newlyweds Yvette Nicole Brown and Anthony Davis, Love was in the air. (Another essence of black women in Hollywood Honore, Teyana Taylor, was a supporting Aaron Pierre there, and there are rumors that these two enjoy their company, which, for which we’re here.) More couples appeared to this event than since the prize season. Scroll to see and feel all love.
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Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Sophia Rose McDowell
Los Angeles, California – 17 February: Kelvin Harrison Jr. And Sophia Rose McDowell take part in the seventh annual American Festival Black Film Festival in SLS Hotel, the luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)
02
Loretta Devine and Glenn Marshall
Los Angeles, California – February 17: Loretta Devine and Glenn Marshall attend the seventh annual awards of the American Black Film Festival in the SLS Hotel, luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)
03
Yvette Nicole Brown and Anthony Davis
Los Angeles, California – February 17: Anthony R. Davis and Yvette Nicole Brown participate in the seventh annual American festival Black Film Festival in SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)
04
Salli Richardson Whitfield and Dondre Whitfield
Los Angeles, California – February 17: Salla Richardson Whitfield and Dondre Whitfield are collaborating in the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival in SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)
05
Founders of ABFF Jeff Friday and Nicole Friday
Los Angeles, California – February 17: Nicole Friday and Jeff Friday take part in the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival in the SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)
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Lance Gross and Rebecca Gross
Los Angeles, California – February 17: Lance Gross and Rebecca Gross attend the seventh annual Arman Black Film Festival awards in the SLS Hotel, the luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)
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Lenengreen dies and Tomasinain Frig
Los Angeles, California – February 17: Larenz Tate and Tomasina Parrott attend the seventh annual awards of the American Black Film Festival in the SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)
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Charles D. King and Stacey Walker King, founder and CBO Macro Media Company
Los Angeles, California-17 February: Stacey Walker-King and Charles D. King take part in the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival in SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)
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Michael Jai White and Gillian White
Los Angeles, California – February 17: (LR) Michael Jai White and Gillian White take part in the seventh annual Honorary American Festival Black Film at SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, Kalifornia. (Photo Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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WME COO Dan Limerick and Dawn Limerick
Los Angeles, California – February 17: (LR) Dawn Limerick and Dan Limerick, COO, WME take part in the seventh annual Honorary Film Film Film Film Film Film at SLS Hotel, Hotel Luxury Collection, Beverly Hills February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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Chris Spencer and Vanessa Spencer
Vanessa Spencer, Chris Spencer during the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival, which took place at the SLS Hotel on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
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Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre
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