Phillips in Collaboration with Bloom Galerie Presents SOLUS BY HEBRU BRANTLEY Virtual Selling Exhibition

Live on Phillips.com 17 May – 4 June 2021

Hong Kong/ New York/ London – 17 May 2021– Phillips is pleased to present SOLUS BY HEBRU BRANTLEY, a virtual selling exhibition dedicated to works by contemporary American artist Hebru Brantley, who is best known for his unique approach to Afro-Futurism. The exhibition, which has been put together in conjunction with Bloom Galerie, will be live from 17 May – 4 June on www.phillips.com/solus, features nearly 30 works in different mediums created specifically by the artist for the show. Visitors around the world will be able to browse exceptional pieces by Brantley with an exciting 360-degree immersive experience via a custom-built 3D virtual gallery.

Jonathan Crockett, Chairman, Asia, Phillips, said: “To coincide with Art Basel Hong Kong, and to continue Phillips’ significant recent developments in the digital space, we are proud to bring this one-of-a-kind virtual selling exhibition by Hebru Brantley to art enthusiasts in Asia and all over the world. Recognised internationally as one of the preeminent artists at the forefront of contemporary culture, Brantley has developed a cult following for his narrative-driven work which includes collectors such as LeBron James, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, among others. His work is regularly exhibited across the world and some of his collaborations with brands include Nike, Hublot, and Adidas. We look forward to welcoming our global collectors and art lovers on Phillips.com to view and interact with these works. They belong to a dark fiction universe where tales of optimism, hope, heroism, and space exploration are part of the storytelling landscape.”

Hebru Brantley said: “I am excited to partner with Phillips, a leading auction house which has been at the forefront of championing young artists. Solus by definition means alone or unaccompanied. It is reflective of how people have felt over the past year being isolated from friends and family. Times are trying no matter what color you are, but especially for people of color. This year has felt particularly damning and lonely. It is as if our voice doesn’t matter, as if we don’t matter. Living a life without the privilege of being seen and heard - where inclusion and equity is not always celebrated, can be further isolating to our communities. We as human beings naturally crave connection, so at a time when everything feels out of sorts and disconnected, people can start to go at each other’s throats. The purpose of this work is to illuminate the strength, resilience and unity that can come from Solus. The light that we as humans can find in the darkest of times. There is so much to unpack from the exhibition, Solus – it’s a stage direction. Life is a stage, but there are moments where life takes us on trips that we don’t feel ready for. We have no choice but to keep paving our path forward. This is representative of where we all are, collectively as a people.”

Among the exhibition highlights is the SPECIAL EPISODE OF THE GREAT DEBATE from the artist’s acclaimed ‘Great Debate’ series. The work depicts two sides of the same argument firmly standing their ground with no one winning. Also highlighting SOLUS BY HEBRU BRANTLEY is THE ULTRA LUMEN PT. 1. Ultra Lumen is the tongue-in-cheek reference to shining a light on certain problems, but it should also feel aspirational. A dim but strong light shining at a time when it is hyper crucial and important to have sparks of inspiration and hope.

Hebru Brantley creates narrative-driven work revolving around his conceptualized iconic characters which are utilized to address complex ideas around nostalgia, the mental psyche, power, and hope. The color palettes, pop-art motifs, and characters themselves create accessibility around Brantley’s layered and multifaceted beliefs. Majorly influenced by the South Side of Chicago’s Afro Cobra movement in the 1960s and 70s, Brantley uses the lineage of mural and graffiti work as a frame to explore his inquiries. Brantley applies a plethora of mediums from oil, acrylic, watercolor and spray paint to non-traditional mediums such as coffee and tea. Brantley’s work challenges the traditional view of the hero or protagonist and his work insists on a contemporary and distinct narrative that shapes and impacts the viewer’s gaze. Find out more about the artist: https://www.hebrubrantley.com/ https://www.instagram.com/hebrubrantley/

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ABOUT PHILLIPS X

PHILLIPS X is a dynamic exhibition platform at the forefront of contemporary art, design and culture. Through ongoing curated programming and immersive exhibitions, coupled with superior private sales, PHILLIPS X goes above and beyond to highlight the work of notable artists and innovators of the 20th and 21st centuries.

ABOUT PHILLIPS

Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century art and design. With dedicated expertise in the areas of 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips offers professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions and exhibitions are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, while clients are further served through representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online auction platform accessible anywhere in the world.  In addition to providing selling and buying opportunities through auction, Phillips brokers private sales and offers assistance with appraisals, valuations, and other financial services. Visit www.phillips.com for further information.

ABOUT BLOOM GALERIE

Bloom Galerie is a contemporary art gallery founded in Geneva, Switzerland by Cedrik Pages and Benjamin Noel Vandenberghe in 2021. The gallery is located in the heart of Geneva’s historical old town and is surrounded by well-established art institutions such as the Barbier-Mueller Museum. 

Throughout history, art has always stood on the frontlines to react against oppression, violence, injustice, and inequalities. By challenging conventions, boundaries, and hierarchies imposed by those in power, art makes space for the marginalized to be seen and heard and propels social change. Art has become a powerful language to speak against forms of repression and inequity regarding gender, race or class. 

Bloom Galerie carefully selects artists whose practice builds on our core values of social consciousness and engagement through visual expression. In addition to maintaining a gallery program, Bloom Galerie is also actively involved in raising funds for charities that underline social causes highlighted by our exhibitions. 

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