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About
Atlanta Contemporary engages the public through the creation, presentation and advancement of contemporary art.
A community that offers ever-expanding support for the creation and appreciation of contemporary art.
Founded in 1973 as Nexus, a grassroots artists’ cooperative, Atlanta Contemporary has since become one of the southeast’s leading contemporary art centers. We play a vital role in Atlanta’s cultural landscape by presenting over 200 consequential artists and creatives from the local, national, and international art scenes through our various exhibition, project spaces, and programs each year. We commission new works, paying particular attention to artists who have not had a significant exhibition in the Southeast. We organize over 125 programs annually including Contemporary Kids, Contemporary Cocktails, Contemporary Talks, and more! Atlanta Contemporary provides 13 on-site subsidized studio space to working artists through the Studio Artist Program.
By The Numbers | Artists Demographics
Race & Ethnicity – 56% BIPOC: 44% Black/African American; 7% Asian American; 5% LatinX and 44% White/Caucasian
Gender – 76% Female; 20% Male; 4% Gender Non-Conforming/Non-Binary
Letter from the director
Over the course of this year, Atlanta Contemporary has exceeded our projected attendance numbers which – though this sounds like a simple data point – means that individuals are choosing us, and for that we are grateful.
We choose you too. From our beginnings in 1973 to today, every decision we make puts our community center. Interestingly though – our community – is unique. It is complex and beautiful. When you decide to travel here, walk in the door, and look through the galleries, something extraordinary happens. Together, We Change The Way We All See Art.
There is this myth surrounding art making first heard in Art History class (I, myself, am guilty of perpetuating it as an instructor): the solitary artist, Michelangelo, isolated within the confines of the Sistine Chapel painting quietly and without interruption. Allow me to shatter this fallacy and instead focus on the fact that we – as artists, curators, patrons, audiences, and programmers – are not alone. Art brings us together. It acts as a binding agent through color, shape, line, texture and form; it transforms us. Art helps us understand our place in the world and as evidenced by your presence at Atlanta Contemporary: Art Is Essential.
Returns and You Are Heleswv (Medicine) sees the reappearance of ART PARTY. I invite everyone to Eat, Drink, and Be Merry. I am excited to come together, celebrate the works in this exhibition and inspire the difficult conversation that these artists and curators put forth. In the backdrop of our gala is a truly solemn and thought-provoking story of the space where we are all currently standing. Atlanta Contemporary occupies the land of the Mvskoke (Muscogee/Creek) Nation. These people were forcibly removed from their land and we reap the benefits of their turmoil. Our occupation of this land is an act of privilege. We acknowledge this land and their legacy.
Special thanks to the curators, Dr. Ashley Holland and Elisa Harkins; the artists Luzene Hill, Brenda Mallory, Kade Twist, Kalyn Barnoski, Kyle Bell, Jeremy Charles, Nate Cummings-Lambert, Patrick Freeland, Raven Halfmoon, Joy Harjo, and Cindi Wood; and our curatorial consultants, Miranda Kyle and John Haworth.
Sincerely,Veronica Kessenich
Executive Director
Our Studio Artist Program supports local working artists by providing subsidized studio space and by fostering a collaborative environment supportive of the creative process.
Staff
Makiko Maekawa
Contemporary Kids Instructor
She/Her/Hers
Lynne Tanzer
SHOP Curator
She/Her/Hers
Board
Katina Asbell
Board Chair
Associate Broker, The Asbell Golde Team | Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby's International Realty
Mace Aluia
Vice President, Corporate Partnership Sales at AMB Sports & Entertainment, Atlanta Falcons / Atlanta United
Odessa M. Archibald
Area Manager, Georgia Power
Stephen Boyd
Managing Director – Accenture Interactive | Products
Natalie Figuero
Business Planning & Operations Lead, Commerce at Facebook
Emily de Golian, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist and Fellowship Trained Mohs Surgeon at Dermatology Consultants, P.C.
Charles "Chip" Mann
Retired Partner - Deloitte Tax LLP
Andrew Rodbell
Co-founder Post Meridiem Spirit Company
Barbara Russell
Senior Director, Institutional Giving at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
Meghan Shakar
Leadership Coach & Startup Advisor Founder, Verandi LLC
Danielle Henry
Global Director, Integrated Marketing Instagram
Our Values
Our Core Values guide us in our work. Along with our Strategic Plan, our staff and board are committed to using our Core Values in the creation, presentation, and advancement of contemporary art.
Innovation
We present experiences that are relevant to contemporary culture. We do this by inviting artists to create, introduce, and present artistic ideas.
Access
We provide a community-focused environment that fosters inclusivity and respect.
Quality
We uphold the highest standards of artistic, programmatic, and organizational excellence in every interaction that we have.
Influence
We lead our field and receive peer recognition through flawless program execution and effective implementation of our plans. We are responsive to our audience and those who aspire to work in the field of contemporary art.
Collaboration
We embrace and work with a wide variety of organizations, neighbors, partners, and communities to reach common goals and provide access to contemporary art in a variety of forms.
Nexus Fund
Nexus
Founded by artists for artists, Atlanta Contemporary was built upon the principles of engaging in experimentation and risk-taking through exhibitions, programming, and support of working artists. The Nexus Fund expands upon the ethos of these early days. By establishing the Nexus Fund, Atlanta Contemporary gives direct and necessary support to visual arts projects being done by Metro Atlanta’s ever-growing community of contemporary arts practitioners. By supporting new work or through the expansion of an existing project, the Nexus Fund sponsors dynamic and innovative individual artists or partnerships. The Nexus Fund: Emergency Relief in first year gave $1,000 to support 60 self-identifying visual artists.