The Atlanta art community is second to none. The scene is so vibrant, diverse and supportive in so many ways. Courtney Brooks has been on the scene as an artist and curator for many years. She recently got the opportunity to open her own gallery space, CBrooks Gallery, and take her creative vision to the next level. We caught up to Courtney live in her gallery space to talk about her growth as curator from to doing pop-up shows to running a gallery space, balancing her artistic practice with curating and how to pour into yourself after you do so much for others. It’s that good art talk you love to hear on the Noize! Listen, subscribe, and share!

Episode 204 topics include:

operating an art gallery

special art residency

integrating art into residential spaces

Know Regrets inaugural show at CBrooks Art Gallery

growth in curating from pop-ups to galleries

Journey of a Black Girl project

making art focused on Black girls/women

taking care of yourself

Courtney Brooks Bio:

An avid supporter for all creatives, Courtney is proud to be a visual artist first and is not afraid to experiment with various mediums like, watercolor, acrylic, oils and photography.  Through personal experiences, traveling aboard, whether teaching art classes, painting on canvas or walls, her love for art and building relationships have led to a journey of curating. Since 2014, she developed professional skills that have provided a platform for her peers through creative direction,team building, private and community fundraising events, solo shows and group exhibitions. The significance of the work Courtney has contributed thus far has opened many opportunities. She is the former a Gallery Director  and curator of the Southeast Community Cultural Center, known as the ArtsXchange’s Jack Sinclair Gallery. In addition, the first woman of color Curator- in- Residence for Art the Atlanta BeltLine, where she will have the freedom to transform a public art space. 

Brooks has a gift to work with a wide range of  entrepreneurs, small businesses, grass root based organizations and collaborates with emerging to established visual artists of multiple disciplines, cultures and backgrounds. Along with assisting artists/ muralist  as a curator, she focuses on understanding the creative process and undiscovered narratives that provides a sense of urgency. Her goal is to help maximize artists’ potential and  expand the visibility in their careers. She understands that being curator carries a role with great expectations and It is a privilege to share work from private collections, establish studio visits and handle concepts with care.

See more: Courtney Brooks’ website + Courtney Brooks IG @cbrooksart

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To understand what it takes to have a long career in this art game we have to talk to the people that have been doing for decades. LaShun Beal has been making and selling art for 50 years. He’s seen all facets of the art world and has a lot of gems to give on working with galleries, the approach to creating, how to survived at art festivals and more. We talk about the age old question what is a style for an artists and how to interact with potential collectors. After a little art break where your boy JBarber had to get into show mode we are back in these art streets bringing you the best in Black art. It’s the Noize! Listen, subscribe, and share!

Episode 203 topics include:

50 years in the art game

phases in an art career

creating with no limits

what is a style?

doing outdoor festivals

the business of art

how to deal with galleries

the creative process

LaShun Beal, contemporary, figurative artist, born January 28, 1962, has dedicated his career to perfecting his art. He is a native of Detroit who now resides in the Houston area.He challenges and expresses himself through many mediums. The ground surfaces and canvases that he uses have their own distinctive character and matchless capacity which gives voice to his work and complements his unique style.After mastering the technical subtleties of different mediums and subject matters, Beal is content with the spirit that drives him to create a particular work of art; and, the evolution of his progress which is exemplified in his creations.He has done extensive traveling throughout Europe, South America and the Far East which has afforded him the opportunity to witness other cultures which is reflected in his art. Beal states, “As an artist, I must be free to choose what I do. I enjoy the process of creating with no limits. That is my vision . . . to let the viewer experience the depth of my range as an artist from their own perspective”.He translates his creativity into imagery while simultaneously masterfully using the mediums of acrylic paint, clay, oil pastels and graphite in his work. 

See more: LaShun Beal’s website + LaShun Beal IG @lashunbeal

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Ceramicist, Malene Barnett, returns to the Noize! We learned all about her amazing book Crafted Kinship and now we learn all about her artistic practice. From designing rugs to ceramics walls Malene’s curiosity and passion has pushed her in new directions. After discovering her love for hand building clay she has been on a journey to learn the craft and make work in all forms. We talk about her ceramic murals, how residencies helped her learn about ceramics, being a part of a community of artists, and the structure she uses to keep her on track in the studio. Malene has some great insights in to clay and how it connects her to her ancestors. More of that good art talk that you love on the Noize! Listen, subscribe, and share!

Episode 202 topics include:

Crafted Kinship world tour

working in clay

finding residencies to study clay

being a part of the ceramics community

being objective about your work

sturcture and discipline in art practice

ceramic murals

traveling to Ghana for research

Malene Djenaba Barnett is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, textile surface designer, and community builder. She earned her MFA in ceramics from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture and undergraduate degrees in fashion illustration and textile surface design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Malene received a Fulbright Award to travel to Jamaica in 2022–23 as the visiting artist at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston.

Malene’s art reflects her African Caribbean heritage, building on her ancestral legacy of mark-making as a visual identity, and has been exhibited at galleries and museums throughout the United States, including the Mindy Solomon Gallery in Miami, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling in New York City, the African American Museum of Dallas, and Temple Contemporary in Philadelphia. Malene’s art and design work has appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Galerie, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, Departures, and Interior Design. In addition, Malene hosts lectures on advocating for African Caribbean ceramic traditions and has participated in residencies at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Greenwich House Pottery, Judson Studios, the Hambidge Center, and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. In 2024, Malene released her first book, “Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practice of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers” (Hachette), which includes interviews with over 60 artists of Caribbean heritage, taking readers on an important journey through the world of Black Caribbean creativity. This groundbreaking collection is the first to feature Caribbean makers’ intimate stories of their artmaking processes, and how their countries of origin—the “land” —influences and informs how and what they create.

See more: Malene Barnett website + Malene Barnett IG @malene.barnett

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As things change around you it is important to stay ture to you passion and your calling. Its the only way to keep progressing toward your goals. Our guests today are George and Esohe Galbreath who know a little something about change lately. They are back to tell us all about their new event, Artful ATL. Saturday, June 7 at the Atlanta Contemporary. They tell us about the 30 plus artist being featured as well as the lessons they have learned from doing successful art event in the city for over a decade. We talk about building community, the new generation of artists working now, and how we pass the legacy on to other people. Listen, subscribe, and share!

Episode 201 topics include:

ArtfulAtl opening June 7 at the Atlanta Contemporary

changing and growing in the Atlanta art community

lessons learned for doing art events for over 10 years

a new generation of artists

continuing events around building community

appreciating the moments

being resilient in 2025

Sohé Solutions imagines and executes events and exhibits that promote and support the creative community. Our co-founded annual art summer social, ARTiculate ATL, in ten years has featured over 200 local artists with over $300K generated in sales. We are equally proud of our curation of New Georgia Project’s politically themed exhibit Politi-Art featuring women of color artists as well as the Many Rivers to Cross Music and Arts Festival dedicated to racial and social justice. Our goal for our curated experiences is to continue to amplify the voices of emerging artists and include them in rooms that they may usually be excluded from.

See more: Sohe Solutions website + Artful Atl IG @creatingfreedomnow

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Everywhere you go you’ll find artists in community. The Atlanta community has supported and produced some incredible artists like today’s guest, Charity Hamidullah. You can see her murals all over the city, her tattoos all of the people and her canvases all over exhibition walls. Charity talks about switching mediums, the artists that inspire her to grow, and how she takes advantage of all the residency opportunities she’s had so far. It’s more of that good art talk we love on the Noize. Listen, subscribe, and share!

Episode 199 topics include:

switching from tattoos to canvas

learning how to draw

getting into murals

being fearless in your art practice

how public art changes space

exploring mixed media

being inspired by other artists

getting the most out of residencies

6 week residency in Portugal

Charity Hamidullah is a multi-disciplinary artist from Rochester, New York currently creating in Atlanta, Georgia.  Through the exploration of daily life as well as environments; Hamidullah utilizes the power of art to dive deeper into her purpose and connect with others.

By way of creativity, Charity embraces her vibrant cultural differences and upbringing to create visual narratives that many can relate to.  Her colorful pallets are full of emotion, and life; symbolic of the diversity which co-exist in her story.  From powerful abstract lines to impactful imagery, Charity unveils chapters of growth, self-discovery and empowerment.

From viewing pieces, it is undeniable that Hamidullah truly travels through her art as she examines different techniques, canvases and mediums.  But, no matter the style or approach; it is always made with love and the intention to inspire.

See more: Charity Hamidullah website + Charity Hamidullah IG @creatingfreedomnow

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Artists know how much of a grind it is to be an artist. So when we see artists exploring and evolving like today’s guest Shanneil Clarke we can appreciate the amount of effort that goes into it. Shanneil is out in these art streets, doing shows and building an audience with paintings featuring his unique Black figures. We talk about the essence of his style, the neck pieces, the gold, etc. and the inspiration behind his work. Shanneil talks about his Jamaican roots, how he vibes with collectors and the collab project he did recently with your boy, JBarber. Great incite into a young artist you can get follow on his journey. Right here on the Noize! Listen, subscribe, and share!

Episode 198 topics include:

grinding in the art streets

symbolism of hair

breaking down Shanneil’s style: neck pieces, gold, backgrounds

life experiences living in Jamaica

influence of Black cartoon characters in Shanneil’s art

collaborative prints with JBarber

exploring materials

connecting with collectors

Shanneil Clarke artist statement:

Art has always been my ultimate form of self-expression, a passion that has fueled me throughout my life. Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, I spent my youth there before migrating to Pennsylvania in 2000. It was in the vibrant artistic environment of Philadelphia that I found inspiration in street art and historical murals. My art journey began during my time at Springfield High School, where I explored multiple mediums and discovered the joy of creating through various projects. After a brief hiatus, I rediscovered my love for art in 2008, particularly using oil-based medium, which reignited my creative energy. 

Each body of my work draws inspiration from both history and everyday experiences, crafted to evoke subjective interpretations in the viewer. I firmly believe that art is universal and shaped by each individual's life journey. As an introspective figurative artist, I incorporate natural motifs and floral fabric patterns to express communication and determination in the figures' pursuit of a better life. Each stroke of paint exudes boldness, confidence, and strength, aiming to inspire those who encounter my art. 

I draw inspiration from a multitude of artists, including Dali, Kevin Williams, Charly Palmer, David Hockney, Basquiat, and Amy Sherald, while also embracing techniques from different eras, like gold leaf and textures. Since moving to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2018, I have become actively engaged in the local art community, showcasing my work in various galleries, such as Mint Gallery and Future Dead Artist Gallery. Notably, in 2022, I was featured in an Exhibition sponsored by Amazon Prime during Art Basel Miami. 

My ultimate goal is to touch hearts and minds with my art, leaving a lasting positive impression on fellow art enthusiasts and inspiring others to express their own passion and creativity.

See more: Shanneil Clarke IG @artbys.clarke

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Today we shine the light on our Caribbean brothers and sisters with Malene Barnett and her amazing book Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practices of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers. Melene talks about her heritage and how this incredible book came together. More than 60 artists are featured included some Studio Noize Alumni like April Bey. Malene talks about the connections between Caribbean artists in the diaspora, experimenting with materials, and what it means to be rooted to a place. It’s more of that good art talk that we love right here on the Noize! Listen, subscribe, and share!

Episode 197 topics include:

Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practices of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers

highlighting Caribbean artists in the diaspora

growing up with parents from the Caribbean

experimental materials

land, climate and sustainability as a theme

pride in your homeland

social constructs around artistic disciplines

ceramics in the Caribbean

Malene Djenaba Barnett is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, textile surface designer, and community builder. She earned her MFA in ceramics from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture and undergraduate degrees in fashion illustration and textile surface design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Malene received a Fulbright Award to travel to Jamaica in 2022–23 as the visiting artist at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston.

Malene’s art reflects her African Caribbean heritage, building on her ancestral legacy of mark-making as a visual identity, and has been exhibited at galleries and museums throughout the United States, including the Mindy Solomon Gallery in Miami, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling in New York City, the African American Museum of Dallas, and Temple Contemporary in Philadelphia. Malene’s art and design work has appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Galerie, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, Departures, and Interior Design. In addition, Malene hosts lectures on advocating for African Caribbean ceramic traditions and has participated in residencies at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Greenwich House Pottery, Judson Studios, the Hambidge Center, and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. In 2024, Malene released her first book, “Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practice of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers” (Hachette), which includes interviews with over 60 artists of Caribbean heritage, taking readers on an important journey through the world of Black Caribbean creativity. This groundbreaking collection is the first to feature Caribbean makers’ intimate stories of their artmaking processes, and how their countries of origin—the “land” —influences and informs how and what they create.

Malene is also the founder of the Black Artists + Designers Guild, which supports independent Black makers globally. When she’s not traveling the world researching Black diasporic aesthetics, Malene resides in Brooklyn, New York.

See more: Malene Barnett website + Malene Barnett IG @malene.barnett

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Ariel Dannielle comes back home to the Studio Noize podcast! We been following Ariel since she came on the single digit episodes of the Noize and we love how she has grown as an artist. If you’ve seen her work you know about her wonderful use of color, her complex compositions and her love of all things girly. She talks about her adventures in these art streets from LA to New York to Chicago and back to Atlanta. We get into her approach to painting and capturing moments, her obsession with painting food, her process of capturing these moments of womanhood/girlhood in her paintings. Its more of that good art talk that you love with one of our favorites. Listen, subscribe, and share!

Episode 196 topics include:

working on solo exhibitions

Feels Like Glitter show at UTA Atlanta

being obsessed with painting food

capturing moments with friends

artistic influences

using yourself as reference

making in different ways

experiencing a residency in Morocco

studio space in Atlanta

representing womanhood and girlhood in art

Ariel Dannielle (b. 1991) is an African-American painter born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She graduated from University of West Georgia, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Drawing directly from her life, Ariel creates large-scale paintings that depict the daily experiences of young Black women through her personal and playful lens. 

She believes in the importance of her artwork to provide a look into Black girlhood/womanhood that can be represented and understood. 

This acrylic archive has enabled her to explore aspects of the mundane, human vulnerability and sexuality. Influenced by Kerry James Marshall and Mickalene Thomas

, Dannielle focuses on developing personal narratives within her portraits that challenge gender and racial stereotypes. By placing herself in the paintings, Dannielle welcomes the viewers to also participate in a process of introspection.

Ariel’s work has been showcased at the Venice Biennale 2024, California African American Museum, Monique Meloche Gallery, Soco Gallery, UTA Atlanta, Harvey B. Gantt Museum, Mint ATL, The Goat Farm, ZuCot Gallery, Dalton Gallery, Trio Contemporary Art Gallery, Sheetcake Gallery, and Perez Museum Miami. She was MOCA GA Working Artist Fellow of 2019-20 and an Artadia 2018 finalist. She also showcased her first mural with Living Walls x Adult Swim in Atlanta, Georgia in 2022.

See more: Ariel Dannielle website + Ariel Dannielle IG @byaridannielle

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New Year, New season of Studio Noize! Your boy JBarber went to see Giants at the High Museum of Art and he has some thoughts. The exhibition featured art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beats and Alicia Keys. There are so many conversations to be had coming out of the show. There’s wealth and celebrity, there’s propaganda, and there’s phenomenal, awe inspiring art. We owe it to them and their efforts to give a good honest critique of the whole endeavor. The same way we examine a show like Afro Atlantic Histories we should examine the good and bad about Giants. A great way to blast into the new year! Listen, subscribe, and share!

Episode 194 topics include:

Giants at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta

celebrity and wealth in art

iconography

the who’s who of Black art

Kehinde Wiley’s 30ft painting

Barkley Hendrick

propaganda in exhibitions

About Giants:

Musicians, songwriters, and producers Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys have stood as giants in the global cultural landscape for decades. As collectors, the Deans have lived their ethos of “artists supporting artists,” acquiring a world-class collection of paintings, photographs, and sculptures by diverse, multigenerational artists.

The exhibition illuminates the renown and impact of legendary and canon-expanding artists. Preeminent “giants” such as Barkley L. Hendricks, Esther Mahlangu, and Gordon Parks push the boundaries of what can be seen on canvas and in photography while building a foundation for today’s Black creatives. Contemporary artists like Hank Willis Thomas and Qualeasha Wood use materials like textiles, steel, and beads to celebrate Blackness and critique society, while mesmerizing compositions from Deana Lawson and Mickalene Thomas challenge and add nuance to perceptions of Blackness. Embodying the exhibition’s “giant” ethos, the paintings by Amy Sherald and Titus Kaphar command attention through striking monumentality. Together, these works bring to the fore many facets of the term giants and reflect the spirit of the Deans, whose creative lives infuse the exhibition.

See more: Giants exhibition at the High Museum

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We back! It’s been a crazy few weeks for your boy JBarber. I had extensive water damage to my house and had to shut down my studio for a full renovation. My studio is in shambles! It makes me think of two things. One, the people out in western NC that were devastated by the recent hurricane. The River Arts District was completely underwater for days. We have to continue to support them in any way that we can. Two, I can’t help be remember the amazing Legacy Print Weekend at Delita Martin’s studio hanging out with some of the best printmakers in the world. Today we got Rabea Ballin and Ann Johnson on the podcast recorded during our fun in Houston. We talked about experimenting in the studio, insight into your friends’ art process, taking classes at Anderson Ranch and much more. We are forgetting about our big studio problems for a little while and getting back to that good art talk we love. Listen, subscribe, and share!

Episode 194 topics include:

Legacy Weekend at Delita Martin’s studio

how the ROUX Collective works

experimenting with colleagues

Can you run leaves through a letterpress?

group critiquing with peers

taking Mickalene Thomas’ class at Anderson Ranch

continuing education for artists

seeing artists work

Rabea Ballin

b. deutschland. louisiana. JAH. germany. louisiana. violin. kurtis blow. mexico. sax. high school. native tongues. art school. colorado. louisiana. college. job. first love. broken heart. spanish. paris. graphic design. italy. rebirth. painting. mrc. houston. mfa. houston 7. gallery. new york. solo exhibition. jeep. professor. 3rd ward. miami basel. zula. roux. afrikaans. stir. brooklyn. bas. suga. everything records. massachusetts review. gallery director. professorship.lief.round 41. netherlands.spain. germany. south africa. mended heart. harvey. biennial. artadia. department chair. cuba. camh. 2020. public art. loss. mfah. mexico city.

AnnJohnson

Ann is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University in Texas, (where she now teaches) and received a BS in Home Economics.   She has also received an MA in Humanities from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, as well as an MFA from The Academy of Art University, in San Francisco with a concentration in printmaking.  Primarily an interdisciplinary artist, Johnson’s passion for exploring issues particularly in the Black community has led her to create series’ of works that are evocative and engaging. Her series Converse: Real Talk has been exhibited at Women and Their Work in Austin, TX, The Kansas City Art Institute, and The Community Folk Art Center in Syracuse, NY.  She has been acknowledged as an “Artist to Watch” by the International Review of African American Art, and is a member of the Bearden 100 (honoring artist Romare Bearden). She is co-founder of the organization PrintMatters and PrintHouston and is a member of the ROUX Collective.  

See more: Rabea Ballin website + Rabea Ballin IG @rballin + Ann Johnson website + Ann Johnson IG @solesisterart

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