Installation photos courtesy of The Union for Contemporary Art. Photo credit: Harrison Martin

Vielmetter Los Angeles congratulates April Bey on the opening of her solo exhibition Will You Watch Me Win? at the Union for Contemporary Art in Omaha, Nebraska on view through December 7, 2024.

The exhibition invites viewers to explore the enchanting lore of Atlantica—a vibrant, imagined utopia where Black queer joy and resilience reign supreme. The exhibition centers on the Magical Blue Holes found around the planet Earth, mystical portals connecting Earth’s oceans to Atlantica, where whales and marine life traverse between realms. These blue holes also house space stations, iconic for their bustling beauty supply stores. Bey’s work features archival ads from these Atlantican beauty stores, weaving narratives of self-love and autonomy. Through this exhibit, Bey poses the powerful question: Will you watch me win if I ask nothing of you? If I revel in my own joy and beauty?