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Noting the hardships faced by these artists, the two have been working side-by-side since 2002 to cultivate communities of art collectors and saturate homes and businesses with fine art.
The Mackey Twins Art Gallery is now the largest collection of exclusive works of artists of color in the tri-state area. Marginalized in the art world, artists of color are traditionally under-appreciated, under-supported and under-collected, the sisters said.
In fact, a November 2015 "New York Times" article noted the “institutional neglect” black artists have faced from museums which have been slow or spotty in acquiring, or exhibiting or recognizing their works.
Years earlier as school teachers the sisters used to buy and frame poster prints, but realized that their purchases were not supporting the artists. They began collecting. As their personal collections grew, their mission came to light. The co-principals’ personal, non-intimidating approach teaches the interested collector about the art and develops him or her as a collector.
To share their art with local residents, the Mackey Twins Art Gallery will present “The Legacy Continues: New Works, New Mediums” featuring exclusive works by acclaimed visual artist James Denmark on Saturday, April 9, and Sunday, April 10 from 2 to 7 p.m.
The exhibit will celebrate the 80th birthday of the master artist and include 60 works by Denmark for sale at the show.
“Artists need credible, reputable places to be represented and presented,” said Denmark. “The Mackey Twins Art Gallery provides that platform.”
Denmark has been creating art professionally for more than 60 years, and has had numerous solo exhibitions in prestigious galleries in the United States and abroad. His oeuvre includes collages, still lifes, abstracts, and bronze sculptures. Denmark was given the National Urban League Living Legends Award in 1980. In 1987, he was awarded the 39th Annual Printing Industry Award by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
The Mackey Twins Art Gallery is at 457 E. Sidney Ave. (off North Columbus Avenue).
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