An Art show about People; highlighting the relationships we have with the world around us.
Connection through Collection:
An art collector’s journey begins with access. From the initial plunge into the unknown to engaging with curators, exposure to art forges a pathway to connection — and ultimately sheds light on the unseen. In between, collectors discover that art is not a color, but rather a culture of perseverance and passion. Our mission is to share the process and the thrill of discovering emerging artistry with the widest audience possible.
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Curated Culture is a one-hour self contained docuseries that follows two art curators as they build relationships between contemporary Black artists and collectors around the world. Marques and Amir aim to create a show that unlocks the world of art for an entirely new generation of art lovers; one that connects them directly to amazing, multifaceted diverse artists and provides visibility for the culture and creative process that dominates their work.
“Coming out of the pandemic, viewers are craving art and travel more than ever. At the same time, there’s also an obvious demand for inclusion and more diverse programming that creators like myself can’t ignore. We must evolve and tell stories that reflect the current shift and that’s what I’m attempting to do through Curated Culture. The series connects artists on the rise, who may not have a voice or presence in the traditional art space to millennials and urban communities, which will essentially reimagine the art and travel landscape entirely. We want to crack open the old guard and redefine the travel genre at the same time.”
— Valerie Edwards, Emmy-Nominated Producer, The One and Only Dick Gregory
Concept
“The ability to explore art outside the traditional constructs of the industry, brings a new joy to the connection and new audiences to the experience. We are at a moment where we can effect real, lasting positive change — both as art-lovers and art-buyers.”
Curated Culture begins with an art collector’s desire to uncover a world unseen. Join modern gallerists, Marques and Amir as our hosts, along a journey with collectors from all walks of life as they discover art masterpieces of tomorrow. In the first season, each episode will feature a single collector and a crop of diverse artists on the rise in Black fine art. Incisive background interviews at the onset of every episode allow our hosts to work closely with the collector to better understand their personal story and how art can transform their lives. Soon after, our hosts bombard the collector with a global array of artworks until they finally select a piece.
However, Marques and Amir understand that for a true collector/artist connection to form, one cannot disconnect art from the artists who create it. So from there, viewers will join our hosts as they travel to meet the artist in their homeland and examine the culture and inspiration behind their work. Stories of how the artist came to love art as well as the nuances of their creative process are interwoven into the show by tracking the evolution of the very pieces that made him/her a viral sensation. The episode will culminate with the collector as they showcase their chosen artwork to reveal how the collector’s investment and connection to the artist has enhanced their life.
At its best, Curated Culture will go to great lengths to present unique and compelling points of view from all over the world. Curators like Marques Hardin and Amir Browder aim to do so much more than procure art; they will present entire philosophies on how Black art can help a generation communicate, cope and grow more honestly.
An unscripted series that embodies elements of Queer Eye and Parts Unknown with the production and intention of the well-known Chef’s Table. Episodes are pre-planned and vetted, while authentic storytelling guides the audience through the art buying process. Following a fairly set formula, each one-hour show is hinged around intimate interviews with the collectors and artists, which provide an unflinching look at the way in which art is acquired and created. Our approach to the latter part of the show is to channel the passion of the artist by delving into the nuances of their craft and revealing the dedication it takes to create. Simultaneously, a story-driven look at the collector’s plunge into the unfamiliar and their connection to the artist allows us to bypass an instructional show for an intimate look at collaboration.
Marques Hardin
Marques Hardin, at Artgence, with his home base in Paris, runs a multi-dimensional consultancy agency and marketplace for art collectors and artists.
Amir Browder
Amir Browder, at Homme, is the curator and owner of a contemporary boutique gallery in Washington D.C for independent and emerging artists of all disciplines.
The Curators
Sample Episode Format
Pilot
Introduction
Washington D.C, 2022 – Post Pandemic. A bustling culture navigates rising gas prices, shortages, racial tension, mass shootings and a host of changes of how we live and work, all brought on by a global pandemic. The country is a hotbed of tension and the need for escapism is at a fever pitch. A crowd of Millennials gather inside a studio, waiting to hear one voice to unify and give them a game plan. But it’s not a politician or woke celebrity appearing before them, it’s an unusual messenger. An art curator. The pulse of the city – Amir Browder.
The Curators
PAUSE: A short tease out of all that’s to come. A new breed of Millennial art collectors, featuring Black art, mainstream resistance, controversial emerging artists, scenic but lesser known destinations, poverty, social conflict, conversation with locals, creativity run amok. Gear up for an art renaissance, it’s going to be a fascinating journey.
When we come back Amir is introducing an emerging artist. Before opening his gallery, there wasn’t a real platform for under-the-radar artists. But Amir is providing just that, through HOMME. Insert his background in art and current role on the show. Amir at work, galleries, and social functions. Amir provides access to artists, however they wouldn’t be able to strive without a buyer.
Introduce Marques; he arrives to check out the scene. Insert his background as a curator, and global connection to buyers everywhere. Together, he and Amir are reimagining the future of art and doing their part to make sure everyone has access. Why? Because art is dope.
INSERT quick shots: Black fine art.
Marques explains that he is working with a new collector who is searching for Black fine art that is out of this world.
The Collector
Meet Kellie Carter Jackson— award winning author, professor and a mother of three. Kellie meets with Marques to seek his help in buying Black art. Kellie explains that she’s looking for artwork that will allow her children to feel represented. In addition, she recently moved her family into their dream home and wants to fill it with incredible pieces, but she doesn’t know where to start. Within minutes of meeting Kellie, we get a sense of her larger than life personality and what’s holding her back.
Marques and Amir guide Kellie through a process of deepening her understanding of Black art, while exposing to numerous art pieces. The goal is to figure out what she likes and to match her an artwork that makes her feel something. Kellie struggles with the selection until finally settling on an Acrylic piece by Egyptian American artist, Dina AZ Salem.
The Journey
The audience follows our hosts and Kellie on a journey to meet the selected artist.
We meet Dina at her studio where she walks us through her mental process. Though motion graphics we track her traumatic upbringing in Egypt as an oppressed adolescent with a talent for drawing to the impressive artist she’s become.
Kellie is impressed with Dina’s bravery, but questions if her work actually suits her lifestyle.
Meanwhile we tour the impoverished area where Dina grew up and meets the locals. Over dinner, she recalls that one of her first notable pieces, resulted in her literally being exiled for a time in her country. Kellie empathizes with Dina because of the glass ceiling she’s faced in her own career.
Finale
With mounting pressure to seal the deal Marques takes Kellie on deep dive through the city and further into Dina’s work. Kellie is deeply moved by the history and lineage, but understands that Egyptian women are still fighting for equality.
The segment culminates with Kellie falling in love with one of Dina’s more controversial pieces of work. She admits to connecting with the piece on a visceral level, but wonders if it will motivate her to question her structured lifestyle. To which, Marques replies,” I think it’s just a beginning of a much needed conversation.”