Gordon Parks
in ‘Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys’, Brooklyn Museum, New York
10 February – 7 July 2024

Gordon Parks, Untitled, Chicago, Illinois, 1953 © The Gordon Parks Foundation
Gordon Parks is included in the group exhibition, ‘Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys’ at the Brooklyn Museum, NY, US.
Expansive in their collecting habits, the Deans, both born and raised in New York, champion a philosophy of ‘artists supporting artists.’ The first major exhibition of the Dean Collection, ‘Giants’ showcases a focused selection from the couple’s world-class holdings. The Brooklyn Museum’s presentation spotlights works by Black diasporic artists, part of their ongoing efforts to expand the art-historical narrative.
‘Giants’ refers to several aspects of the Dean Collection: the renown of legendary artists, the impact of canon-expanding contemporary artists, and the monumental works by the creators.
The term also evokes the strength of the bonds between the Deans and the artists they support, and among the artists themselves. Along with examining these links and legacies, the exhibition will encourage ‘giant conversations’ inspired by the works on view—critiquing society and celebrating Blackness.