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Kendra Walker seeks to expand the reach of Essence, a thriving art community

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Photo: Piera Moore, courtesy of Atlanta Art Week

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When she founded Kendra Walker Atlanta Art WeekIts aim was to support artists and highlight the city’s cultural landscape. As it enters its third 12 months, it has grow to be a much-needed effort to bring together galleries, artists, collectors and art enthusiasts to promote education, economic development and art appreciation each locally and abroad. For this esteemed artistic advisor and author, looking back on the past week’s successes is vital, but it surely’s most vital that she looks forward so she will be able to proceed to evolve and thrive.

Although this significant event may occur in 2022, its founder began her artistic journey long before it took off. Walker’s introduction to art was unexpected, sparked by studies abroad that exposed her to some of the most prestigious institutions in Europe, including the Louvre and Tate Modern.

“Before this trip, I had no formal education or knowledge about the art space,” she recalls. “It was this trip as part of my formal art history training where I was first exposed to the art space.” This encounter, combined along with her art studies at Georgia State University and several other key internships, laid the foundation for a profession she describes as a “beautiful and unique” experience.

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Atlanta Art Week was born out of Walker’s observations of the city’s growing artistic atmosphere. “I watched our ecosystems thrive and be so active,” she explains. Inspired to create a platform that might amplify contemporary art on a regional level, Walker’s vision was to establish a moment in time that might encourage travel, exposure and expansion for local and international artists. As a result, the event quickly grew in popularity since its inception, attracting over 2,000 ticket holders in its first 12 months.

Reflecting on the event’s early achievements, Forbes 30 under 30 Honoree appreciates the enthusiasm of the city’s artistic community. “I think it was able to thrive in the first year because of Atlanta’s readiness for something like this,” Walker tells ESSENCE. Without a large social media following, AAW relied largely on word of mouth and support from the local arts association.

As the event grows, so do the challenges. In the starting, Walker’s predominant focus was selling the idea of ​​Atlanta Art Week to participants and supporters. “You’re very much in grind mode. By the third year, the same type of sales presentation is no longer necessary.” Now he’s in a recent phase where reflection and development take precedence. “It’s definitely a different set of things that we’re thinking about and considering three things today compared to when we started,” he says.

One of the key facets of Walker’s work is her identity as a black woman in the arts. While she approaches her craft with professionalism, she is acutely aware of the role of race, gender and age in her experiences. “My passion is Black artists, BIPOC artists,” he says. “I naturally try to help open doors or create opportunities that I would want.” However, Walker is committed to inclusivity, ensuring that Atlanta Arts Week represents a wide selection of voices and perspectives.

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Looking ahead, Walker anticipates AAW will proceed to grow over time, with an emphasis on expanded programming, modern exhibitions and more educational content. He hopes to involve more universities and even middle and high schools in the project. As she continues to construct on her child’s success, Walker’s commitment to cultivating Atlanta’s art scene and creating opportunities for artists stays at the heart of her mission.

“I think Atlanta Art Week has helped people from out of town, from all over the world, take time to explore together,” Walker says. “It also created an opportunity for the Atlanta arts community to really come together and really amplify all the amazing work that’s going on – now the world can see it.”

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Celebrity Coverage

New music this week: Keke Palmer, Coco Jones and more – Essence

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New music this week: Keke Palmer is fighting the band

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Happy Friday, people. When we still enjoy the fantastic thing about black until the tip of the month – and all year long – some talented artists have published great music for you. From the spiritual R&B to alternative hip-hop, this week comprises certainly one of the most well liked music.

Today, the winning singer who’s awarded by Grammy, Coco Jones broadcasts her very anticipated debut album and celebrates the news of the talented fans of the primary project of the project, a stuffy song entitled “Taste”. Before the premiere of the fourth season, Joey is investigating $$ continues his continuous records with “Pardon Me”, Keke Palmer shows his creative range on “Imposter”, and Afrobeats Burna Boy will present “Update”, putting “update”, putting the “update” Soul II Soul’s Classic song.

Check out our list of the perfect recent music to hearken to this week below.

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Ici: Blondes Beyonce’s Blonde Micro and more – Essence

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Ici: blondes Beyonce's Blonde Micro, Coco Jones in Chanel Beauty and more

Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for the Recording Academy

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Last week was the time for the primary. From the primary front rows in Paris Couture Week to the primary wins of Grammy Award, celebrities closed the primary month of 2025 (and the start of the black history) with a bang. Of course, this also included the looks of beauty. In other words, we saw gravity that defile hair, recent classic French suggestions and eye makeup of gray-with avant-garde with classic spins.

Megan Thee Stallion participated in her first week Couture, knocking on make -up artist Rihanna Priscilla it to get a matte look to match her inverted manicure. Kelly Rowland, within the Black Bob jet, took her Couture Week “Make a 15 -percentage gala to mix with a set of naked nails.

And the Reality Television Star, Tiffany “New York” Pollard’s Cool Toned Beauty-Mac’s Kissliquid jancolour powder in chestnut with Lip insole The stone was used – she was seen in her first MAC campaign.

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Makeup Artist Dee Carrion’s Look for the Grammy Award winner required for the primary time Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette with an outlined tight line. Meanwhile, we also saw Coco in Coco. Coco Jones at Coco Chanel Beauty, I mean! The singer shook Naked liquid lip AND Glow stick in champagne.

To finish the week, Beyoncé-who added her first album award to her thirty fifth collection-she wanked a brand new concert tour in bleached micro braids and a red lip. Of course, you furthermore may cannot forget concerning the diamonds of the grills through which the passage passes.

If you missed this, have a look at the 9 best moments of the fantastic thing about celebrities from the week.

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Like a rewarded grammy, glam has gathered on many times

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It is interesting that we play glam we play glam? We have details

Harrison Frazer/Getty Images

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67. The annual Grammy Awards took place yesterday evening, meaning the amazing starting of black history and concentrating black artists who make the world revolve.

The rapper, singer and creator of the lyrics went down in history as a third woman who won the award for the most effective rap album because the category was created in 1989 and gave one of the vital dynamic performances of the night with many hair and wardrobe, which generally strengthened her artistry.

Doechia hit the red carpet in Flash by MUA Dee CarrionOnly using Urban Decay products. Initially using Usually To prepare the stunning skin of the rap star, Carrion created a raised, luminous and long -lasting look that emphasized the natural great thing about doechia. The secret to her striking cheekbones? Urban Decay’s Face -binding luminizer IN “High profile“And”Half -baked. “Complete along with her characteristic guy accessory, doechia’s makeup had its reward when she honored the stage to create a story.

How the award -winning grammy glam to doechia gathered
Los Angeles, California – February 02: Doechia is involved within the 67th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for the Recording Academy)

Entering the red carpet before the concert, the Doechia arrived with a complicated sort of the braid, drawn back to the horse with Elegant finger waves Pruning her hairline and cropping face. The artist chargeable for doechia “to the hairdresser Malcolm Marquezwho collaborated with the musician for her braids developed by feed efficiency In late evening Stephen Colbert. “Doechia brought me the concept of ​​creating the form of a wave of fingers. My goal was to provide you with tips on how to marry two classic appearance, “he shares. “Her era is currently very focused on the braid. In the case of Grammy, we desired to create several elements that imitated one another, but in several styles. “

When doechia transformed several varieties of plowed artistry all night, preparing the scalp was a necessity. He used Marquez Thank God, it’s a natural wonderful Ayurvedic style, hair and oil on the scalp To protect her scalp and hair and designed the waves of the carpet’s fingers with a brand Foam setting AND absorbing gel. Her acceptance speech She saw her braids inbuilt a multidimensional spin configuration, swayed elegant, patterned stitch braids to her performance, and he or she got here out until the top of the night, Grammy, with one other dynamic Warta Crown project, matching her winning. “I had a crown for her if she wins and fortunately we have to use it!” Marquez tells us. All the look of the braid was set with TGIN heat protection spray To add this extra gloss, and the sculptural elements were manually scattered on her head behind the scenes.

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How the award -winning grammy glam to doechia gathered
Los Angeles, California – February 02: Doechia is involved within the 67th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for the Recording Academy)

Because the present era of doechia is stuffed with black artistic traditions, we ask in regards to the intention of such complex braided styles. “Blocks are a fundamental black hairstyle. In the context of this project, I think that it generally focuses on a classic style. From fashion to hair, everything is a reference to the “timeless” aesthetics of beauty, “explains Marquez. His contribution to this purpose is to marry the classics from Modern to create known but revolutionary styles.

“I think that innovations reflect who Doechia is as an artist. She is incredibly creative, different, but she still knows herself in her core. I think that innovative styles of braids drive this point, “he concludes.

From the carpet to the center stage and in the course of the thrilling performance of Grammy Glam, he kept her on an unforgettable night of workmanship in each music and magnificence.

How the award -winning grammy glam to doechia gathered
Los Angeles, California – February 02: Doechia participates within the 67th annual Grammy Awards on February 2, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for the Recording Academy)


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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