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brandon sheats

@sheatsb

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NYC // MIA // ATL
Executive Director @burnaway
Futures @apollotheater
Jazz and punk all day.

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Exactly one year ago, I pitched my first exhibition review to @burnaway. I had no idea it would lead me to Milwaukee, meeting their team and fellow contributors, and experiencing @bettina_estate’s “Original Order Order Original” at @ruthfoundationforthearts.

Getting a glimpse into Milwaukee’s visual art scene was such a gift. We explored the stunning structure of Milwaukee Art Museum (their floor dedicated to Haitian and Folk art was a highlight). @bearbear.co introduced us to the magic of risograph printing and all its unique colours. And we took in Bettina’s work: her tinkerings, experiments, and the extensive catalogue she built even after a devastating fire razed her Brooklyn studio.

As I hoped, the people were the best part. Everyone I met had such unique backgrounds and creative practices. Those winding conversations about art writing, process, the balancing act of creative life, and everything in between—reminded me why I love this work.

Burnaway is so much more than an art magazine. I’ve felt that in all my interactions with their editorial team, and this trip was no different. I’m grateful to be part of this community advancing contemporary art from the South and Caribbean.

Many thanks to Ruth Arts and Burnaway for making this special trip possible 🙏

——

Slide 3: “Untitled”, 1981 by Donald Judd
Slide 4: “Saint Francis and the Christ Child (Sen Franswa ak Ti Jezi)”, 1946 by Hector Hyppolite
Slides 8-9: “Original Order Order Original” Opening

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The panel reminded us that being able to talk about your work matters.
I’m still learning how. Sometimes the drawing says what I can’t.

There’s a truth in the way others see it.

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Thank you to Grit Art Show for inviting me to take part in the “Bridging the Gap” panel at Echo Contemporary Art, where I joined Hayley Smith, Director of SCOPE Art Show, and Brandon Sheats, Executive Director of BURNWAY, to discuss how the South continues to lead the conversation on accessibility and representation in the arts.

Our conversation centered on strengthening the arts ecosystem across the South—exploring access, visibility, and sustainability, and how @artistic.logistics , @scopeartshow , and @burnaway each lead with the shared mission of building equitable opportunities for artists and creative communities.

Grateful to the @aldayhunkengallery + @artsharefoundation team for curating such a thoughtful dialogue that reflects the South’s growing influence and leadership in shaping the national arts landscape.

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GRIT closing night
Great panel discussions with
@p_hollywood Brandon Sheats @burnaway and Hayley Smith of @scopeartshow
No one is a monolith
Takes a community and conversations
All perspectives and visions
Viewing alongside artists with years of
Resilience and persistence ✨
GRIT at @echo_contemporary_art
Group exhibition
@grit.artshow @artsharefoundation
@aldayhunkengallery @bignpasty
@wonderworksdsgn @megcmills
@sallyepp @boblandstrom
@lindsay.mistretta @crysart1983
@gordon.massman @evereman
@krystal_visions @jeremyrayis
@lyiness @artisticallyeso
@sabiin.e @le.craig
@feldstein.art @moneyteam
Appreciation and gratitude
Reminder while we still have
Freedom of expression
Get to know your eclectic
ATL community✨💫
In this puzzling AI world
Times of reflection
Celebrate your perspective and truth
Your - Artful Intelligence
My edgier alter ego - JIGSAW
Encouraging fellow creatives
Blaze your own trail
As an agent of positive change
Be kind to yourself and everyone else
While navigating in the art landscape
Compulsive material investigation
Before word articulation
Gallery representation
Agendas and concepualization
Art market valuation
It's your path and way
Doesn't have to make sense
To anyone but yourself
Seriously playing
Investigating all dimensions
Within and around
Staying positive productive
Not self destructive
Building up and breaking down
In this puzzling world
Piecing it all together
Not about changing
But fully becoming
Prepping for the next
2025 evolution phase
Not a part time love affair
Amazing things can happen
Get to know your community
With respect and empathy
As we step out into the world, during this unsettling time, reverberate peace and 💕

Studio focused thoughts for 2025:
1. Keep encouraging others
2. Stop hiding
3. Your inner truth is valid
4. Work it out through chosen materials
5. Creative process equals mental health
6. We are all cocreators in this universe
7. Align your heart and body enhances spirit
8. Creative outlet nurtures self care
9. Nice surprises awaits around the corner
10. Get out of your own way
#artcollector #atlantaartshow #echocontemporarygallery

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We are proud to announce our panel: Bridging the Gap — a conversation dedicated to exploring how emerging artists can navigate their path within today’s art ecosystem.

From engaging with art fairs and government initiatives to building meaningful relationships with the press, the panel invites a critical discussion on access, visibility, and sustainability in the arts.

We are deeply grateful to our distinguished panelists for sharing their experience and insights:
Hayley Smith, Director, SCOPE Art Show
Plushette Ellis, Founder & CEO, Artistic Logistics
Brandon Sheats, Executive Director, BURNWAY

Their work continues to shape the cultural landscape and inspire new possibilities for emerging voices across the South and beyond.

Come be part of the panel at @echo_contemporary_art on Saturday 18th at 6pm

#Grit #BridgingTheGap #AldayHunkenGallery #Hypercuration #AtlantaArt #EmergingArtists #ContemporaryArt

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Caught some great panel discussions at @atlartfair 2025

#ATL #ART #ARTFAIR

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How our @atlartfair experience started - welcoming the fair’s host committee and VIP reception, mingling, libations in hand, and artful conversations with some new art friends and some of our favorite familiar faces.

#atlantaartfair #artfair #atlantaart #atlantaartists #collectingatlanta #galbreathcollection #SOHEcurates #SOHEcollects

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What a truly spectacular Art writing symposium in Atlanta this last weekend! Expertly planned by @artpapers and hosted by @pistachiocake and @tksmith106. What a gift to be in a room with so many colleagues and friends in the field. It was so nourishing to be speaking a shared language, and to have vulnerable conversations about the challenges that our field is facing, while considering new forms and models for the future.

I spoke on a panel about models with the fabulous @tempestthazel and @_james_hoff (and think we could have easily kept talking another 15 hours) about our various models we operate within. We spoke to how the back ends of our publishing organizations can be a reflection of our values, how to be messy out loud and resist over-professionalization, and what it looks like to grow by rooting deeper rather than by expanding.

In another talk, Art Papers Director, Sarah Higgins modeled the ethos of vulnerability, speaking to the intentional closing of Art Papers—a 50 year old ATL-based Art magazine—that brought me to tears. She is using the term fire ecology to consider how to offer an intentional burn of one thing in order to spur new seedlings of growth.

One such seedling may be @regionalartpublishers, a cohort I am a part of that is having conversations about how to support eachother in the field. Thank you to Art Papers for giving us the time and space to host a break out session to connect with others about what it means to create local criticism that is rooted in place.

Thank you to all of the speakers and participants! Thank you to @criticalminded_community for your general support for the symposium and for directly supporting so many Carla writers and staff to attend. It was extremely impactful for all!

The seeds that were planted are ones I will definitely continue to unpack and chew on, and I am left feeling hopeful, connected, and (transparently) less alone in the work we do. ❤️🌱🔥

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ATLANTA ART FAIR
Final Day

Got to hear a fantastic discussion from the leading art publications in Atlanta, lead by Coco Conroy with Art Papers. Saw some wonderful people.

Bonus, my photograph of John Lewis sold.
My heart is full.

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Great time at the @atlartfair VIP preview reception! What an amazing collection of artists and galleries - right here in the ATL! Part 2
@artfulatl @blackwomeninvisualart @blackartinamerica_ @atlantaoca @fultonarts @atlantaphotographygroup

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ATL in the house! A great debut for @aaineki and @wolfganggallery at the @thearmoryshow … congrats!

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Arrival Art Fair on film 🎞️

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