The recent protests calling for an end for racial injustice due to the recent deaths of black civilians at the hands of law enforcement officials have influenced many to speak out about the racial discrimination and misconduct they have experienced within their industry.
In 2019, Chaédria LaBouvier became the first black curator and the first black woman to curate an exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City with her show, “Basquiat’s ‘Defacement’: The Untold Story,” explores the iconic artist’s aesthetic engagement with the hostility of law enforcement. At the time, the museum had come under heavy criticism about the lack of visibility given black artists.
As part of the #BlackoutTuesday initiative to stand in solidarity with the protesters, the museum issued a statement of support. Chaédria fired back at the tweet, citing the fact that she is the first black curator in the museum’s 80-year history.
Get the entire fuck out of here. I am Chaédria LaBouvier, the first Black curator in your 80 year history & you refused to acknowledge that while also allowing Nancy Spector to host a panel about my work w/o inviting me
Erase this shit.
Please RT. https://t.co/LH7YYWcLT5
— No Quarter Will Be Given (@chaedria) June 2, 2020
She went on to talk about her relationship with the art institution in tweets calling out its racist behavior during her time there. “This is the same museum that made up an IMAGINARY designation of ‘first solo Black curator’ b/c they were too afraid to admit that they had not hired a Black curator to lead a show in 80 years and erased me and history in the process,” she tweeted. “They are full of s–t.”
The Guggenheim wants forgiveness yet they cannot even mention my name muche less what they did, LOL.
I will not allow them to fashion a re-brand on the work, body and vision that they tried to erase and break.
Not on my watch or that of my descendants.
— No Quarter Will Be Given (@chaedria) June 10, 2020
