(ep 8) How have Black women influenced the art world? With Lauren N'Namdi of N'Namdi Contemporary

The Collective Drift platform was created by Erica Knowles to celebrate all women, the beauty of their cultures, and international travel experiences. I believe that women possess magic, that gives them strength and grace to change the world. We learn how to tap into our power in various ways based on our cultural backgrounds and our journeys. Join me and an amazing collective of multicultural, multiethnic, and multigenerational women that are artists, cultural leaders and travel enthusiasts as they tell their stories about their culture, their tribe of women, their passions, their art, and their favorite international experiences. Welcome to Collective Drift.

What type of art do African American women create? How have African American women left their mark on art? What should I look for when collecting art? What should I look for when buying art? Why should I collect art? What is it like to be a gallery owner? What should I look for when buying black art? What should I look for when buying art by black artists? What should I look for when buying art from female artists? What type of African American art should I buy?

In this interview with Lauren N'Namdi co-owner of N'Namdi Contemporary we talked about a number of things including art, of course, being a mother, growing up as an only child in Detroit, her path as an artist and designer, and of course her favorite vacations.

Lauren is an interior designer and she co-owns N'Namdi Contemporary with her husband Jumaane N’Namdi. They recently went from renting a location in Wynwood to owning their gallery in Little Haiti’s emerging arts corridor.

Lauren is an African American woman that grew up in Detroit Michigan. As a child, Lauren didn’t have biological aunts instead she had her mom’s friends that were her adopted aunts. She learned how to be a woman from her mom and those women. Lauren enjoyed watching and being a part of their very socially active lifestyle. In the interview, she reminisces about how they used to play bridge and now finds her mother in herself as she prepares for her own social and gallery gatherings. Because of this, her favorite way to practice self care is having time with her girlfriends and she loves staycations at the Standard Hotel Miami.

Lauren grew up around art. Aaron Douglas “the father of Black American Art” was Lauren’s mother’s cousin. Aaron was an influential abstract artist during the Harlem Renaissance and his work can be found around the world. You can still see his mural “Evolution of Negro Dance” at the Harlem YMCA and around Fisk University where he was the founder and chairman of their Art Department. Lauren grew up listening to stories about how her great aunt hung out with Aaron, Langston Hughes, and W.E.B. Du Bois. Yes, something like a movie. Since Lauren grew up with art, she always knew that she wanted to be an interior designer. Lauren studied art at Spelman College and got her Master’s in design at Pratt Institute.

Lauren believes that African American women have had a huge impact on art but that they still don’t have a huge presence.

Read more... https://www.collectivedrift.com/post/ep8lauren

Lauren’s question: If you were to be truly selfish what would you do?
How Lauren defines a woman: “A woman is badass”

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Where to find Lauren:
N’Namdi Contemporary
info@nnamdicontemporary.com | 786.332.4736 | 6505 NE 2nd Ave. Miami. FL 33138
http://nnamdicontemporary.com/
https://www.instagram.com/nnamdi_gallery/

Where to find Erica:
www.collectivedrift.com
https://www.instagram.com/collectivedrift/
https://www.youtube.com/collectivedrift

Mentioned in the interview (unless noted restaurants are open for takeout /delivery during the quarantine):

The Standard Spa https://www.standardhotels.com/miami/properties/miami-beach
Little Haiti Cultural Center https://littlehaiticulturalcenter.com/
Nanette Carter http://nnamdicontemporary.com/artists/nanette-carter-ncm/
Patrick Quarm http://nnamdicontemporary.com/artists/patrick-quarm/
Haulover Beach http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/haulover.asp
Overtown http://experienceovertown.com/
Coconut Grove https://coconutgrove.com/
North Miami https://www.northmiamifl.gov/
KYU https://www.kyurestaurants.com/
GiGi’s Waterfront https://ggswaterfront.com/
The River Oyster Bar https://www.therivermiami.com/ *
B & M Market https://www.bmmarketmiami.com/
Sugercane https://www.sugarcanerawbargrill.com/
Phuc Yea https://www.phucyea.com/
Shukin & Jivin https://www.weshuckin.com/
Lil Green House Grill https://www.lilgreenhousegrill.com/
Opa https://tavernaopa.com/hollywood *
Red Rooster Overtown https://grovebaygroup.com/project/red-rooster-overtown/ *
*Temporarily closed

Music by Catherine Knowles