The Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival will kick off the opening of this year’s festival on Friday, August 7th with a conversation on art, ownership, and Black collectors’ role in preserving legacy. The talk will feature Guy Stanley Philoche, visual artist and illustrator Charly Palmer, and founder & owner Jessica Ann Peavy.
The panel will explore Philoche and Palmer’s individual journeys as artists, the stories reflected within their work, and the vital role collectors play in sustaining their creative practices and ensuring that Black communities are seen, valued, and remembered. Following the panel, there will be an opening reception for Philoche’s popular “Give Us Our Flowers” series, which will be on view and available for purchase at The Mariposa Museum from August 7th-21st.
About Guy Stanley Philoche
For over 25 years, New York artist Guy Stanley Philoche’s art has been heavily noted within the art scene and treasured by various collectors nationally and internationally. His latest series is “Give Us Our Flowers,” a deeply introspective body of work that celebrates the strength and resilience of Black people who are rarely celebrated. The intention is to give people recognition, love, and respect now, not when they are gone. This beautiful collection features people from historical icons like James Baldwin and Jackie Robinson, to culture shifters like Lena Waithe and the late Virgil Abloh, as well as “everyday people.” Philoche’s work has been showcased at top-tier exhibitions, including SCOPE Art Show, LA Art Show, and Art on Paper, with a standout reception at the recent Hamptons Fine Art Fair. His piece “Nope Not Today” was acquired by the Gates Foundation, and Delta launched his painting “Yes We Can!” from his series “Give Us Our Flowers” in their LAX One lounge. In addition, the Wall Street painting from his series “New York, I Still Love You” was acquired by DV Trading as part of their corporate collection. Philoche also has a big celebrity following, including George Clooney, Uma Thurman, NBA superstars Chris Paul and Chris Bosh, actress Garcelle Beauvais, Dorinda Medley of The Real Housewives of New York City, and others. View Guy’s work on IG at: instagram.com/guystanleyphiloche.
