Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys

Article by Becky Fillinger, Photos provided

Amy Sherald. Deliverance, 2022. Oil on linen. The Dean Collection, courtesy of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.

A Discussion with Casey Riley, Mia's Chair of Global Contemporary Art and Curator of Photography and New Media

Casey RileyMia has a spectacular new exhibit: Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, on display through July 13. In addition to viewing the 98 works on display by Black diasporic artists, you should consider attending some of the related events. I wanted to dive deep into just one of the artworks on display, “Deliverance” by Amy Sherald. It’s easy to rush through the exhibit in the Target Galleries – as you ponder what magnificent art is just around the corner - but I suggest you slow down and give each piece a bit of time to learn its backstory. Casey Riley, Mia's Chair of Global Contemporary Art and Curator of Photography and New Media, told us all about “Deliverance.” The Museum Shop has an accompanying book to supply information on the other magnificent pieces in the exhibit. Get tickets here.

Amy Sherald, Photo Kelvin Bulluck

Q: What should we know about “Deliverance”?

A: Amy Sherald's "Deliverance" (2022) was a challenge for the artist, whose vision was to re-create the joyous athleticism, poise, and liberatory energy of two Baltimore street bikers. It's difficult to capture that feeling of upward motion, the liveliness of the scene and the people within it, but the results speak for themselves.

Sherald is renowned for her regal portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama, and this diptych also evokes comparisons to the history of aristocratic portraiture; these daring riders with their immaculate footwear and gleaming helmets are intentional allusions to equestrian portraits created by Velasquez, Rubens, and other European painters of the past.

"Deliverance" is breathtaking in its scale, palette, and composition, deliberately awe-inspiring in its visual impact. At the same time, it elevates an everyday activity - street biking - to a new level, as if painting the riders against that bright blue sky signals their proximity to divinity.

The tees, hoodies, jeans, and sneakers worn by the riders in "Deliverance" are simply rendered, but powerful in their invocations. Black people are enormously influential in matters of fashion, style, and culture, and by painting the riders in seemingly ordinary street gear, Sherald reminds the viewer of the role Black creators have in shaping some of the most iconic of looks (and demand for certain wardrobe staples) around the globe.

It's wonderful to note that there is no actual street or ground visible in "Deliverance." There is a sense of unbounded possibility, of limitlessness, that is beautiful to behold within the context of this show. Mr. Dean often notes that "the sky is not the limit - it's just the view." This monumental diptych embodies the hopeful message that runs throughout "Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys," reminding the viewer of their own potential for greatness.

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Editor's Note - Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys were recently interviewed on ABC regarding this exhibit: