Visual Collaborative

Last updated
Visual Collaborative
Visual Collaborative Corporate Identity.png
Logo since 2011
Status   Active   
Genre   Conference, Pop-up exhibitions and digital properties   
Frequency   Seasonal   
Venue   Various locations, Online   
Headquarters New York City, New York, U.S.
Years active18
Inaugurated2007   
Founder    Olufeko   
Organized by   Visual Collaborative, LLC
(Minneapolis) (2007–2023; dissolved)
International joint venture; Publishing only
(2024-Present)   
Electronic Publishing
CategoriesLifestyle
Innovation  
First issueApril 5, 2019  
LanguageEnglish (Some articles in French or Spanish)  
ISSN  2642-9780  
OCLC 1096432925  
Website visualcollaborative.com

Visual Collaborative is an American festival and publishing platform highlighting the intersections of people, commerce, and innovation. The platform organizes exhibitions that feature talks, art, technology, development, and live music performances. [1] Over the years, the initiative has grown in scope and size, aligning with sustainable goals. [2] [3]

Contents

History

In 2006, inspired by the open collaboration movement, designer and technologist Ade Olufeko founded Visual Collaborative to bridge the gap between creative professionals and their commercial value. [1] Since originating in Minneapolis, Visual Collaborative has showcased collections and talks in Minneapolis, Miami, New York City, The Mission San Francisco California, Columbia Maryland, and Washington D.C. [4]

In 2007, the group's inaugural event featured international artists Miko Simmons and Linda Zacks, which took place at the original Center for Independent Artists, inside Instituto de Cultura y Educacion located in a community of South Minneapolis. In 2011, in Washington D.C., Visual Collaborative produced an exhibition featuring emerging and established artists with a collection described as vibrant new art. [4]  In 2015, the platform collaborated with the Arts District Hyattsville Master Association in Hyattsville, utilizing the Lustine Center to host a group exhibition themed Vanity. [5]

Operating model

Up until 2015, the platform's exhibitions occurred as disruptive innovation in a traveling formatted pattern. [6] They have been held in reputable galleries, lofts or donated spaces by private owners who include art enthusiasts and lifelong patrons of the arts. [5] They are executed through joint ventures with other arts and humanities organisations [7]  which have in the past included Arts District Hyattsville Master Association in Prince George's County and Voices for Children Miami. [8] In April 2019, Visual Collaborative launched an open access online collective called Polaris, also documented as North Star by the Library of Congress, ISSN 2642-9780. [9]

A month-long pop-up exhibition featuring emerging artists and creatives took place in Adams Morgan, Northwest of Washington, D.C., 2011 Aerial View of 18th St.jpg
A month-long pop-up exhibition featuring emerging artists and creatives took place in Adams Morgan, Northwest of Washington, D.C., 2011

Exhibitions

Events held in U.S. cities before publishing expansion:

Publishing

In April 2019, Visual Collaborative launched an open access online collective called Polaris. The project commenced in the winter of 2019 for a period of three months. The interdisciplinary collective featured 26 practitioners from various disciplines. [12] [13] The Polaris catalogue explores creative disciplines, perspectives and intrinsic value of the featured practitioners and how they interact with society. [14] [15]

French musical duo Helene and Celia of Les Nubians featured in TwentyEightyFour, the collective's fifth publication. Les Nubians 4.jpg
French musical duo Hélène and Célia of Les Nubians featured in TwentyEightyFour, the collective's fifth publication.

Polaris features both established or emerging people in the creative industry, intersecting with anthropology and humanities. Its subtopics may include health and wellness, architecture, fashion, entertainment news and non-partisan political themes. In addition to covering professionals from regions around the globe, the content aims to boost literacy in various socioeconomic circles. [16]

In June 2019, the second volume of the Polaris series featuring 25 people was released under the title Voyager. [17] Seun Kuti was one of the main features. [16]

2020 TwentyEightyFour

In May 2020, international news outlets announced the release of the TwentyEightyFour series. The 5th volume of the Polaris catalog consisted of conducted and transcribed interviews, among the 21 participants featured French music sisters Les Nubians, Metal Gear music and soundtrack composer Rika Muranaka, Global strategist Busie Matsiko-Andan, Comedian Chigul, Electronic music artist Coppé and a reprised conversation of Nollywood actress Dakore Akande. [18] Themes of adaptability and empathy ran consistently across the collective, aiming as a reprieve and alternative to the COVID-19 pandemic media barrage. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Les Nubians</span> French musical duo

Les Nubians is a French musical duo, composed of sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart from Paris, France. In 1985, the sisters moved with their parents to Chad. Seven years later, they returned to Bordeaux, France, and began singing a cappella, producing poetry slams in Bordeaux and Paris, and singing background vocals for various artists worldwide. The duo's debut album Princesses Nubiennes was released by Virgin Records, France, in 1998.

Polaris is a star, also known as the North Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Femi Kuti</span> Nigerian musician and singer-songwriter

Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti, popularly known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician born in London and raised in Lagos. He is the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and a grandchild of political campaigner, women's rights activist and traditional aristocrat Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.

Jens Gad is a German producer, songwriter and guitarist of Danish parents. He started making music at a young age.

Dawn Okoro, is a Nigerian American artist who paints figurative art works, as well as practices photography and videography, all inspired by fashion and popular culture. She graduated from University of Texas-Austin in 2002 with a B.A. in Psychology and Fashion Design and graduated with a law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in 2009.

Rika Muranaka is a Japanese composer and music producer renowned for her songs in Konami’s Metal Gear video game series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seun Kuti</span> Nigerian Afrobeat saxophonist and singer (born 1983)

Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti, popularly known Seun Kuti, is a Nigerian musician, singer and the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Seun leads his father's former band Egypt 80.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dakore Egbuson-Akande</span> Nigerian actress

Dakore Egbuson-Akande is a Nigerian actress. She is an ambassador for Amnesty International, Amstel Malta and Oxfam of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigirl</span> American artist (born 1981)

Tiphanie Brooke, known professionally as Antigirl, is an American multidisciplinary artist and graphic designer, best known for her series of heart paintings, street art and collages.

Qmillion, is an American record producer, mix engineer, composer, and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Qmillion's achievement for recording and mixing recording artist Robert Glasper's critically acclaimed Black Radio album, gained him a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 55th Grammy Awards in 2013. and most recently nominated for Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Black Radio III by Robert Glasper on the 2023 Grammys.

Polly Alakija is a British muralist, artist and children's book author. Born in Britain, she moved to Nigeria upon marrying her Nigerian husband and most of her works focus on Nigerian-themed concepts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bantu (band)</span> Musical artist

Bantu is a 13-piece band based in Lagos, Nigeria. Their music is a fusion of Afrofunk, Afrobeat, highlife and Yoruba music. The group features multi-instrumentalists and singers who perform as a collective.

Remi Vaughan-Richards is a Nigerian filmmaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chigul</span> Nigerian comedian (born 1976)

Chioma Omeruah, better known as Chigul, is a Nigerian comedian, singer and actress who is known for her accents and comedic characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahia Shehab</span> Lebanese Egyptian visual artist and art historian

Bahia Shehab is a Lebanese Egyptian multidisciplinary artist, designer, historian, creative director, educator and activist based in Cairo. Her work is concerned with identity and cultural heritage, and uses Islamic art history and in particular Islamic calligraphy and graphic design to explore contemporary Arab politics, feminist discourse and social issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ade A. Olufeko</span> Nigerian-American Polymath (born 1980)

Ade Abayomi Olufeko, is an American-born designer and technologist primarily active in Lagos, Nigeria. He is the founder of Visual Collaborative, an American platform collaborating with diverse experts on socio-economics.

Tosin Oshinowo is a Lagos-based Nigerian architect and designer, creative entrepreneur, public speaker and author.

<i>Remember To Rise</i> 2018 derivative artwork by Ade Olufeko

Remember To Rise subtitled Black's Dream is a derivative work of the Iyasile Naa, a massive art collaboration. Observing innovation in developing countries, technologist of Ijebu descent Ade Abayomi Olufeko, known for his collective signature created the work as a cultural bequest for the African continent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aya Chebbi</span> Tunisian diplomat

Aya Chebbi, is a Tunisian diplomat, and a pan-African and feminist activist. She became the first appointed African Union Envoy on Youth in November 2018. Appointed by the chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki in November 2018, as the youngest senior official in the history of the African Union and youngest diplomat in the chairperson's cabinet. She supports the Chairperson in addressing his thematic priority of working with and for young people and advocate to Silencing the Guns by 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcie Rendon</span> Native American author

Marcie Rendon is a Native American playwright, poet, author, and community arts activist based in Minneapolis. She is an enrolled member of the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.

References

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  2. Onyekwelu, Stephen (4 December 2019). "LIFE & ARTS Nse Ikpe-Etim, William Coupon, others drive creative sector SDG". Business Day . Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  3. "Nse Ikpe-Etim, William Coupon and Nere Teriba in latest Visual Collaborative SDG publication". The Guardian. December 3, 2019. Archived from the original on Dec 5, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "Visual Grandeur, A Visual Collaborative Exhibition". African Digital Art. December 21, 2015. Archived from the original on Oct 1, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
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  7. Makori, Vincent (host) (18 December 2015). "A technologist, Visual Collaborative". Africa 54. Voice Of America (VOA).
  8. "R&B Singer TolumiDE Serenades Guests at Visual Collaborative 'VANITY' Event!". Ladybrille.com. December 17, 2015. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  9. Visual Collaborative in Periodicals database | OCLC WorldCat. OCLC   1096432925.
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  11. "Diaspora Initiative continues its platform to push emerging artists". Entertaining Africa. December 19, 2014. Archived from the original on May 2, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  12. "Ade Olufeko speaks at Yale University, collaborates with Bahia Shehab, others in new collective". New Telegraph. April 2, 2019. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved Feb 1, 2020.
  13. Agbana, Rotimi (2 April 2019). "Shehab, Bobby, Tosin Oshinowo, others featured on Visual Collaborative". Vanguard (Nigeria) . Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  14. Oreoluwa, Mayowa (2 April 2019). "Ade Olufeko speaks at Yale University, collaborates with Bahia Shehab, others in new collective". News Direct. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  15. "Tosin Oshinowo, Remi Vaughan-Richards, and other Nigerians featured in online catalogue". This Day. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  16. 1 2 "U.S based Festival Platform Visual Collaborative features Seun Kuti & Other Africans". Bella Naija. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  17. Ganiu, Olaitan (17 June 2019). "Seun Kuti, Seun Kentebe, others featured on international platform". The Nation . Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  18. Onyekwelu, Stephen (6 May 2020). "Les Nubians, Rika, Chigul, Dakore feature in TwentyEightyFour". Business Day (Nigeria) . Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  19. "Les Nubians, Rika Muranaka, Chigul, Busie Matsiko-Andan, Coppé appear in TwentyEightyFour". The Guardian. May 3, 2020. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2023.