David Byrne and Maria Cornejo Celebrate Art's Latest 'Fall'

GBA, a new art collective, exhibited the works of artist Lakea Shepard at the Ace Hotel in downtown Brooklyn.

Last week, creative industry insiders filled the concrete and wood lobby of the Ace Hotel in downtown Brooklyn to see the work of Lakea Shepard in the latest "drop" from GBA, a new art, commerce and lifestyle platform for underrepresented artist communities.

The pieces, on display until January 30, are based on "slave masks", devices of control and punishment used against slaves in the New World. Ms. Shepard assembles the masks with beads, gemstones, thread and ephemera, using traditional African techniques of basket weaving, embroidery and embellishment to portray the challenges faced by black people in contemporary society. Ms. Shepard, 32, a sculptor, mixed-media designer and milliner, grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and graduated from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

"I wanted it to have that shine. But at the same time, the closer you look, the dirtier it gets," Ms. Shepard said of the 10 exhibits. "I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how I could captivate an audience while acknowledging social issues."

GBA, also known as Guilty By Association, was founded in 2021 by Karen Wong, who worked for 15 years as an executive at the New Museum in Manhattan, and Derek Wiggins, who developed mobile marketing platforms and created streetwear collaborations with Nike, Supreme and Adidas.

"I think for too long academia and the gallery system have provided u It's a very narrow path to what people think of as success," Wong said. "Our hope is to see how we can diversify and create more opportunities and possibilities."

ImageDerek Wiggins, right, co-founder of GBA, has created streetwear collaborations with Nike, Supreme and Adidas. Credit...Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

ImageTen parts by Lakea Shepard, left , with Symone Williams, are on display through January 30.Credit...Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

ImageKaren Wong, co-founder of GBA, worked for 15 years as an executive at the New Museum.Credit...Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times

M/s. Wong and Mr. Wiggins hope to expand access by hosting events in more inviting spaces and expand artistic representation by showcasing the work of queer artists and artists of color from regional cities. Both will also provide artists with 75% of the retail cost of their work, as opposed to the gallery's standard 50%.

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