Easy Otabor and the cultural impact of Anthony Gallery
Written by Stephen Ajao
via Instagram @easyotabor
Launched in 2019 by the Chicago-born gallerist and tastemaker, the new exhibition space aims at promoting and connecting artists from all over the world with local talents
Image consultant of artists of the caliber of Rihanna and Travis Scott, Easy Otabor has always put street art and culture at the centre of his work. Over the past few years, he has collaborated with some of today’s most admired contemporary artists including KAWS, Nina Chanel Abney, Sterling Ruby, and Wes Lang, eventually establishing himself as one of the personalities shaping the world of art today.
After cutting his teeth in art curation while working as a buyer at RSVP Gallery, a legendary destination for fashion hounds, sneakerheads, skateboarders, and connoisseurs of collectibles founded by Virgil Abloh and Don Crawley; last year Otabor opened Anthony Gallery — a showcase for international art named after his father and based in the Fulton River District neighborhood of Chicago — with 1988 being the platform’s first official show.
Featuring an all-star lineup of contemporary artists of the likes of Erik Parker, Aaron Johnson, Tyrrell Winston, and Dr. Woo, the presentation retraced the atmosphere and cultural trends that took shape in 1988 through a wide variety of art forms, from paintings to ceramic and textile sculptures as well as mixed-media pieces.
via Instagram @easyotabor
So far, the gallery has hosted two other shows, Unite Through Culture — an artistic tribute to the city legend Michael Jordan — and Festival: A Visual Exploration of Hip-Hop & Music, a collaboration between Otabor himself and over 30 photographers aimed at documenting the social implications of rap.
The idea of relying on the power of art as a way of handing down cultural values related to the street scene remains at the core of Easy Otabor’s vision, as also reflected by the themes he chose to tackle at Antony Gallery. Thanks to art and its many expressions, the Chicago-born gallerist succeeds in reaching people coming from different walks of life and social classes, thus sparking positive discussions within the art community.
Among the other things, Otabor is also the founder of Infinite Archives, a streetwear brand that wants to stress “the importance of history in relation to the present.” Carefully designed by creatives collaborating with the brand, all Infinite Archives garments celebrate numerous significant moments in art, music, sports, politics, and pop-culture.
Featuring the design of New York-based artist Tom Sachs, Break the Cycle, the brand’s latest t-shirt, illustrates systems of racism, hence denouncing the existence of structural racialised inequities. All proceeds from the sale of the tee will go to Rebuild Foundation, a “platform for art, cultural development, and neighborhood transformation” that strives for the social empowerment of the communities living in the South Side of Chicago.
Aware of Otabor’s willingness to promote and support emerging as well as established artists of colour, we can't wait to find out more about the upcoming projects and exhibitions he will curate at Anthony Gallery.
