February 2024 Newsletter

A LOOK BACK AT BLACK HISTORY MONTH 

IIDA

COME ONE—COME ALL

“TRANSCENDENCE PRESERVED”

IVY BROWN GALLERY

Opening Reception, Thursday, March 20, 6-8pm

March 20, 2025 - April 10, 2025

675 Hudson St, New York City, NY

I invite you to attend the upcoming solo exhibition of my sculptures, TRANSCENDENCE PRESERVED, at Ivy Brown Gallery. For two decades, I have been building this body of work, which explores cultural intersections shaped by my African American ancestry while celebrating our ability to survive, thrive, and even excel despite historical struggles against racism.

The sculptures elevate everyday implements into sacred symbols of resilience and pride by applying gold where the hand touches them. They are encapsulated in custom vinyl slipcovers—a reference to the showcase living rooms in many aspirational African American homes when I was growing up. These protected shrines to accomplishment, elegance, beauty, and luxury were preserved as emblems to be viewed and admired, but never touched.

If you can’t make the opening, please visit the gallery during the run of the show. I hope you will find just the right piece that evokes memories of your family, resonates with your communities, or simply makes you smile.

“BODY OF WORK”

GROUP SHOW- ART150 GALLERY

March 21, 2025 - April 27, 2025

ART150, 2nd Floor Gallery, Jersey City, NJ

I am excited to share that my sculpture in the form of a necklace, Female Torso with Mud & Brass Wire Beads, will be included in the upcoming exhibition Body of Work. Curated by fellow ART150 artists Frank Ippolito and Alexandra Alvarez, the exhibit explores the complexity, nuance, and expressive power of the human body across various artistic disciplines.

There are currently about three sculpture necklaces I have created that I love too much to sell, and this is one of them.

This vessel—a ceramic form of a female torso—grabbed me immediately while perusing the most wonderful gift shop at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) on New York’s Columbus Circle. You really should check it out—it’s one of the best jewelry stores in New York City. And while you're there, be sure to grab a copy of Malene Barnett’s marvelous new book, Celebrating Caribbean Creative Traditions.

MARTIN HOUSE

Artist Residency & Continued Engagement

Buffalo, NY

In the link, I share a video highlighting the Frank Lloyd Wright Martin House, focusing on my residency in Buffalo, New York, last September and October. This opportunity was an incredible journey through art and history, along with a community engagement program I initiated every Friday with a local charter school's second-grade class.

As a result of the residency's success, we are continuing to move forward, exploring funding opportunities for design commissions. Stay tuned for more in future newsletters!

THE STORY MAKERS-Tales of Black Heritage through Jewelry and Objects

Gallery Loupe, Montclair, NJ

April 5-May 5, 2025

Mark your calendars for the opening of this group show featuring all-female jewelry designers, curated by Sebastian Grant. Four of my one-of-a-kind sculpture necklaces will be offered. It is an honor to be selected by Sebastian and to be showcased alongside such talented company at this esteemed gallery.

Don’t miss the opening—works here are often acquired by collectors quickly. Three of my sculpture necklaces were acquired by the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) on New York’s Columbus Circle. Two are currently on display in their exhibit, OUT of the Jewelry Box, until April 12, 2026.

CURATORIAL STATEMENT BY SEBASTIAN GRANT

Stories contain power within them, pushing the mind toward imagination while also recording memory. As the bearers of legends, stories serve as conduits of culture, bringing the history of tribes and nations to life. In the form of folktales, stories have not only been a catalyst for the preservation of African and African American heritage but have also functioned as essential tools for ensuring its survival.

In many African tribes, women often took on the role of storytellers, weaving epics from thin air to connect to an ancestral tapestry. Craft, like folktales, is rooted in traditions and techniques passed down through generations—often from mothers and grandmothers—engaging with the spiritual core of past ancestors.

This exhibition highlights the significance of craft-making for African American women and feminine-identifying individuals by showcasing seven artists who embrace the role of storyteller in their work. Through diverse practices, techniques, and backgrounds, these artists bring seven distinct lives into a unified narrative. Their objects—ranging from metalwork and beadwork to other mediums—explore themes of family and social ties, strength, freedom, equality, and the evolving concept of womanhood today.

ICONIC BLACK INTERIOR DESIGNERS

One of my favorite works—created for Danny Glover—is featured in a celebration of Black interior designers who are redefining spaces with iconic creations. I’m grateful to be among the visionaries shaping the future of design.

Thank you, Black Interior Designers, Inc., for this recognition!

BLACK BARBIE: DIRECTOR’S SCREENING

It is a true honor to serve on the board of the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in NYC. This is my second time as a board member and my first as an Executive Board Member. I bring the perspective of a practicing artist, a woman, a gay person of color, and a former member of several arts boards to the table.

A recent outcome of that contribution is Black Barbie: A Documentary. Because I was out of the country, I was unable to attend the event, but I hope you enjoy the link below.

Like many American girls, I owned a Barbie as a child. I also had the Dream House, a turquoise convertible car, Ken, and Barbie’s not-so-fabulous friend, Midge (I believe that was her name). I still recall my mounting frustration that neither Barbie nor any of the other dolls were Black. That gap no longer exists, and I say BRAVA! Beauty comes in all shapes and shades! I am so proud to have been in a space where I could speak up, advocate, be heard, and inspire action.

MAD hosted a special screening of the award-winning documentary Black Barbie, celebrating the groundbreaking contributions of three Black women at Mattel who revolutionized representation in the toy industry. The screening was followed by a conversation with the director, Lagueria Davis, and film programmer Samah Ali, exploring the power of storytelling, identity, and cultural impact.

Stay tuned for more engaging programs at MAD!

MUSEUM - QUALITY ART FURNITURE AVAILABLE FOR SALE

Own or Donate to Your Favorite Arts Institution: Arizona/New Mexico Portal Mirror (2008)

I am offering the opportunity to acquire this mirror from my private collection. My hope is that it will be donated to a museum, where it can be accessible to a broad audience, professionally maintained, and preserved for future generations. If you are interested or have connections that might be possibilities, please share this image and introduce us. The mirror can be viewed in person at my ART150 Studio in Jersey City’s Powerhouse Arts District.

Inspired by the American Southwest—a region that holds a special place in my heart—I created this piece as a tribute to its colorful, majestic landscapes rich in history. I love driving through its vast, open terrain, watching a rain cloud drift across the horizon miles away. My visits to Reservations were particularly memorable; a shaman once gifted me a packet of sacred, protective sand, which is attached to this piece.

This mirror also honors prehistoric and early human times—when the region was an ocean teeming with turtles, when native peoples chipped arrowheads from stone, when buffalo roamed, and when wild turkeys, smart enough to elude hunters, thrived.

This mirror is one of a pair. Its mate, San Francisco/New York Horizon, was purchased by prominent music industry publicist Gwendolyn Quinn and reflects a more urban and industrial aesthetic.

If you or someone you know may be interested in acquiring this piece, please email me at cherylrriley@gmail.com with the subject line: "Mirror Inquiry." I’d be happy to provide further details, welcome you to view it in person, and answer any questions. Ensuring this piece finds a meaningful home is very important to me.

BADG AT THE COOPER HEWITT - SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM  

New York, NY

November 2, 2024 To August 20, 2025

My vitrine assemblage, AFRICANA/AMERICANA (2024), is featured alongside fellow BADG members in the current Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum’s library in New York City. This exhibition explores how design shapes the physical and emotional realities of home across the U.S., its territories, and Tribal Nations.

Featuring 25 site-specific installations, this year’s Triennial delves into the many ways homes are built, reimagined, and experienced. The full exhibition is installed throughout the historic Andrew and Louise Carnegie Mansion.

This institution has supported my art for decades, beginning with a commission by then-Chief Design Curator David McFadden for my Tudor Tables III & IV, which have been featured in three exhibitions to date. I am delighted to be included in this extraordinary project alongside my wonderful cohorts—the members of BADG (Black Artists & Designers Guild).