Biography
April Bey was born and raised in the Bahamas (New Providence). She lives and works in Los Angeles as a visual artist and professor at Glendale College. Bey's interdisciplinary work is an introspective and social critique of American and Bahamian culture, feminism, generational theory, social media, Afro-futurism, Afro-surrealism, post-colonialism and constructions of race within supremacist systems.
All of Bey's work are extremely demanding in terms of handiwork but also in the sourcing of the materials used. In fact, the artist makes a point of sourcing as much as possible from black women-owned businesses.
Having already participated in major contemporary art fairs such as Armory Show (2021), Frieze (2022), Art Basel (2021 and 2022) and Untitled (2020 & 2021 top booth), the artist presents a wealth of artistic experience in terms of group and solo exhibitions. April Bey's work is already in numerous public collections such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) (2022), 21C Museum (2022), Escalette Collection - Chapman University (2021), METRO Los Angeles (2020), Fullerton College Art Gallery (2020), Lancaster CA Museum of Art and History (2020), Inter-American Development Bank (2020), Self-Help Graphics (2020), Center for Contemporary Printmaking (2019), The Current Bahamas Tradewinds (2018), California African American Museum (2015), National Art Gallery of the Bahamas (2014).
Works
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Any Adversary Came Here to Enlighten Me, 2023 -
COLONIAL SWAG: I Know All About What You Want to Know All About, 2023
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GROWN, 2023
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It's Not a Headband You Stupid Bitch, I Can See Hella Shit You Can't, 2023
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"Why are you Gay?" "Who says I'm gay?" "YOU ARE GAY, 2022
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How Could I Possibly Be Inconspicuous, 2022
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I Grew It Myself and It Was a Brilliant Blue, 2022
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Keep Acting Funny So I Can Be Hilarious, 2022
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When My Flow is Phuckin Ridiculous, 2022
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When Some of the Most Beautiful Thangs Come Out My Mouth, 2022
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COLONIAL SWAG: I Have Dreams to Buy Expensive Things, 2021
Video
News
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11 Must-See Venice Shows to Visit during the Biennale in 2024 - Artsy
9 Apr 2024193 Gallery : ' Passengers in Transit”, April 20–November 24 During the Biennale, tastemaking Paris-based 193 Gallery ’s Venice space will host the Centre for...Read more -
193 Gallery, one of 1-54's Marrakesh Contemporary Art Fair favorite stand - Art news
9 Feb 2024The fair’s fifth iteration launched the 8th and closed on February 11th . 27 exhibitors were participating, among them 193 Gallery ! This year we...Read more -
Next Generation of Fiber Artists Brings New Perspectives to Traditional Forms featuring April Bey - SECCA
21 Nov 2023'The Threads We Follow' acknowledges the foundations of fiber arts rooted in explicit gender and cultural expression while demonstrating contemporary understandings of the malleability of...Read more -
April Bey at the Nevada Museum of Art : " Atlantica, The Gilda Region "
18 Nov 2023In the exhibition, Bey positions herself as an alien from the planet “Atlantica,” where her mission on Earth is to observe and report as an...Read more
