Becoming The Sea: Black Rock Senegal x Harvey B. Gantt Center

Named for the volcanic rocks that blanket the Dakar shoreline, Black Rock is a multidisciplinary artist-in-residence program founded by renowned artist Kehinde Wiley in 2019. The residency brings together international artists to live and work in Dakar.

Inspired by Black Rock's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Becoming The Sea highlights 12 artists who participated in the first two years of the residency. The exhibition includes painting, photography, video, sculpture, writing, and installation. Becoming The Sea reflects the unique perspectives, techniques, culture, and traditions experienced by the artists during their time at Black Rock.

International artist residencies epitomize the essence of cultural exchange in the arts. They not only expand the horizons of the artists involved but also strengthen the ties of a more inclusive and interconnected global arts scene. By living and working in a context that is often quite different from their own, artists are exposed to new ideas.

Dakar, the vibrant capital of Senegal, boasts a dynamic and thriving art scene that reflects the country's rich cultural heritage and contemporary creativity. As a melting pot of traditional and modern influences, Dakar has emerged as a significant hub for African art, attracting artists, curators, and collectors from around the world.

Dexter Wimberly is an American curator based in Japan who has organized exhibitions in galleries and institutions around the world including the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, The Green Family Art Foundation in Dallas, KOKI Arts in Tokyo, Bode Projects in Berlin, and The Third Line in Dubai. His exhibitions have been reviewed and featured in publications including The New York Times and Artforum; and have received support from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and The Kinkade Family Foundation. Wimberly is a Senior Critic at New York Academy of Art, and the founder and director of the Hayama Artist Residency in Japan. He is also the co-founder and CEO of the online education platform, CreativeStudy.

Named for the volcanic rocks that blanket its shoreline, Black Rock Senegal is a multidisciplinary artist-in-residence program founded by artist Kehinde Wiley in 2019. To support new artistic creation through collaborative exchange and to incite change in the global discourse about what Africa means today, the residency brings together international artists to live and work in Dakar, Senegal for 1-3 month stays. The residency spaces were conceived by Senegalese architect Abib Djenne with interior collaboration between Wiley, Fatiya Djenne, and Aissa Dione. The residency is an invitation for artists to engage with Senegal's artists, history, traditions, and creativity. To date, Black Rock Senegal has welcomed more than 60 artists, from more than 15 countries.

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