TITUS KAPHAR AT THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM: AN EVENING CELEBRATING THE DISRUPTING PORTRAITS OF THE ARTIST

One: Titus Kaphar, Friday, June 21, 2019 through Sunday, October 13, 2019 (Image: DIG_E_2019_One_Titus_Kaphar_01_PS11.jpg Brooklyn Museum. (Photo: Jonathan Dorado) photograph, 2019)

Honoring this year’s artist Titus Kaphar and his thought-provoking paintings, the 2024 Brooklyn Artists Ball will take place on the 9th of April and is set to be an evening where innovation and artistry will set the tone, and where inspiration takes the center stage.

Hosted by the Brooklyn Museum, the evening promises an unforgettable experience filled with creativity and camaraderie. The annual fundraising event celebrates and supports the museum's mission to present innovative exhibitions and educational programs while honoring notable artists and contributors to the cultural community.

For this edition, the event will have as Honorary Chairs Jamie and Robert Soros and Barbara and John Vogelstein and as lead sponsor the French Maison, Dior. The evening includes a cocktail starting at 6:30 pm, Dinner and an after party hosted by Young Leadership Council. For this occasion, the museum partnered with Art For Change, and José Parlá and Vaughn Spann, who will commission two new, limited-edition prints

This year’s event will be held in honor of the contributions of Titus Kaphar, esteemed Brooklyn Museum Trustee, and Cofounder and President of NXTHVN. His work engages with themes of race, identity, and history in America, exploring the absence, distortion, and manipulation of historical narratives, particularly those related to African American experiences. Kaphar’s poignant portraits challenge viewers to reconsider how history is constructed and represented.

Throughout his work Kaphar employs techniques such as cutting, shredding, and painting over portraits of historical figures to disrupt and reimagine traditional representations. Titus sheds light on the personal stories behind the statistics of incarceration rates in the United States, his work is both personal and socially disruptive.

Kaphar’s notable series "The Jerome Project," investigates the impact of mass incarceration on African American families by creating portraits of incarcerated individuals who share the first and last name of his father, Jerome, based on his own father's experience with the criminal justice system. His different portraits are proof of his commitment to accountability and social justice.

Other Artists honored by the Brooklyn Museum include Maria Grazia Chiuri, photographer and video artist Carrie Mae Weems, Brooklyn-based artist known as KAWS, Nick Cave and more.

Titus Kaphar (American, born 1976). The Jerome Project (My Loss), 2014.