Move over aspiring div
as, chefs, fashionistas, business execs and Jersey shore beach bums – visual artists finally have their own TV show. Coming this June, 2005 Scholastic Art Portfolio Gold winner
Abdi Farah will star as the youngest contestant in BRAVO’s new reality series,
Work of Art: The Next Great Artist.
And as a recent grad of the University of Pennsylvania’s fine arts department, Farah was no stranger to the late hours, fast deadlines and creative problem solving that reality TV competitions demand. His skills encompass a variety of media including sculpture, cartooning, printmaking, illustration and painting, which promise to make him a competitive contestant in the upcoming series. But the experience will definitely put his creativity to the test as he competes for a $100,000 prize and a solo show at the Brooklyn Museum against 13 other artists, whose backgrounds include film, architecture, photography, sculpture, digital art, performance art and mix-media.
Each episode will challenge the contestants to make a unique piece of art using a different medium with a panel of established art curators and critics judging the works. Guest appearances will include Sarah Jessica Parker and weekly celebrity judges such as mix-media artist Jon Kessler and photographer Andres Serrano.
No stranger to competitions, Abdi Farah draws inspiration from artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Hieronymous Bosch and Fred Astaire; his works depict compelling themes exploring identity, current events, historical references, religion – and even a series portraying the current President of the United States in outer space. His work has been exhibited in several cities including two Scholastic Awards exhibitions at the Diane von Furstenberg Gallery (New York City, 2005) and Corcoran Gallery of Art (Washington D.C., 2004).
So, mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 9: Stop by Carnegie Hall to attend The 2010 National Awards Ceremony, check out the Empire State Building lit in gold in honor of The Scholastic Awards, and then get home by 11pm to check out the debut of Work of Art: The Next Great Artist on BRAVO.
See some of Abdi Farah’s work here, or check out this recent interview by Esu Magazine to learn more about his creative process.
Photo: Abdi Farah. Copyright Bravo TV, 2010.
