The City of Santa Monica is beefing up its public Art Bank collection with a new piece that packs a punch. Gary Tyler, an LA-based artist and this year's recipient of the Frieze Los Angeles Impact Prize, is the latest to be showcased. His work "In Memoriam of an Ashanti Warrior" has officially been snapped up through an initiative that's all about shining a spotlight on Southern California talent.
According to an announcement from Frieze Los Angeles, a collaboration between the city and the art organization aims to directly support and expand the Art Bank's portfolio with works from local artists. It's a win-win: artists get their work immortalized in public spaces and the community gets to experience more cultural flair.
Tyler's work got the nod from an impressive jury, including Christine Messineo of Frieze, Amanda Sroka from the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and Laurie Yehia of the Santa Monica Arts Commission. Yehia gushed to Frieze Los Angeles, “I am thrilled that we will be adding Gary Tyler’s important artwork to the City’s Art Bank.”
Tyler is known for his poignant back story, having been sentenced to death at 17 before spending 42 years behind bars. His sentence was commuted in 2016 and since his release, he's been harnessing his time in a prison hospice to master traditional fabric quilting techniques. His art, often a reflection of his wrongful incarceration, seeks to truly highlight and navigate the injustices of the US carceral system. The artist takes to the canvas to depict figures he met during his time at Angola State Penitentiary.
The Santa Monica Art Bank has been growing continually since its 1984 inception. Spearheaded by the City's Percent for Art Program, the collection boasts various mediums, from sculpture to photography, created by an array of notable artists like Laura Aguilar and Kerry James Marshall. Last year's Frieze Los Angeles saw Edgar Ramirez's work "Bajío" (2023) join the Art Bank's illustrious roster.
Tyler's inclusion in this cultural bastion is more than just an honor; it's a testament to the power of art as a vehicle for change and expression. With his win also comes a $25,000 prize, and an introduction to the arts scene via a booth at the fair, giving his voice—and his vision—a broader platform.
For a glimpse at Tyler standing proudly beside "In Memoriam of an Ashanti Warrior," or to learn more about the city’s Art Bank collection, interested parties can visit the official City of Santa Monica blog post. The collection serves not only as a hallmark of regional creativity but as a reminder of art's transformative capacity—something Tyler, no doubt, understands firsthand.
