On the occasion of Lonnie Holley's presentation with BLUM at Paris+ par Art Basel, Nowness premieres a new short film featuring the artist-musician in his Atlanta studio.
Drawing upon themes interwoven with the African-American experience lived in the midst of the American Civil Rights movement, Holley channels narratives anchored in history, transcribing and commemorating the past, while maintaining an eye on the future.
Approaching art as a spiritual endeavor, a memorial carved from sandstone for his niece and nephew became an early catalyst for the cathartic weight carried by his work—spanning painting, sandstone carvings, and sculptures comprising found objects and debris. In this short film by director Liz Barclay, Holley demystifies his artistic practice, detailing its thematic core and the environment that has shaped it.