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Can a work of art make visible the experience of being Black in America?
In this bonus conversation on Compelling, host Katy Wellesley-Wesley asks Keith Rivers how race, politics and representation shape his life as an African American collector. Keith reflects on the difficulties he and people close to him have faced in the United States, where he grew up in Florida, and why he moved to Paris. He describes finding artists whose work helps him understand those experiences and seeing his own experience treated as worthy of attention in museums. He names Rashid Johnson, Kerry James Marshall and Glenn Ligon among artists who have informed him. Katy recalls Henry Taylor’s portraits of everyday Black life, including the force of a portrait titled I Am a Man. They consider how art can hold history and invite viewers to look closely at the people and stories pictured.
On 23 October 2026, Artforum reported that the Studio Museum in Harlem named three artists of African and Afro-Latinx descent for its 2026–27 residency, which provides material support, workspace and professional guidance. The report gives a current example of an institution supporting artists whose work explores Black experience and diaspora.
Keith Rivers: Keith Rivers is a contemporary art collector, patron and former NFL linebacker who divides his time between Paris and Los Angeles. After studying at the University of Southern California, he was drafted ninth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2008 and later played for the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills. His collection includes work by John Edmonds, Barbara Kruger and Glenn Ligon, reflecting his interest in photography, language and the connections between artists. In 2022, he curated Courage Before Expectation at The FLAG Art Foundation, bringing together artists whose work and experiences spoke to perseverance and changes of direction. In this conversation, he discusses his continuing education through exhibitions and reading, and his interest in further curatorial projects.
Katy Wellesley Wesley: With over 18 years of leadership across galleries, foundations, and startups, Katy has built a career shaped by curiosity and a drive to explore new ideas. She spent a decade at leading commercial galleries—first at Gagosian, then at Pace, where she was Director of Exhibitions in London. She went on to lead the Villa Lena Foundation in Italy as Director, before joining the founding team of ROKBOX, a pioneering environmentally focused art logistics startup, as Sales Director. After relocating to Paris seven years ago, Katy developed a strong interest in the intersection of art and luxury. She now works as a consultant to brands, artists, foundations, and collectors.
Art direction by Eddie Harrop Studio
Website and Production by Story Ninety-Four
In partnership with Cahiers D'art
