Armory Off-Site, a program of the Armory Show, has partnered with the United States Tennis Association to showcase sculptural works at the U.S. Open by five artists from marginalized communities.
The works will be displayed throughout the site of the Open, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, in late August and early September.
The partnership builds on the Be Open social justice campaign spearheaded by the tennis association’s managing director of marketing, Nicole Kankam. With diversity, inclusion and respect as cornerstones of the campaign, in 2020 the tennis association, which owns and operates the U.S. Open, displayed the work of 18 artists who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color, in the front, empty seats of the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It’s all built around this one grounding statement: When you keep an open mind, great things can happen in our sport and out in the world,” Kankam said of the campaign.
The artists whose works will be showcased this year include Jose Dávila, who is represented by the Sean Kelly gallery; Myles Nurse, who is represented by the Half Gallery; Carolyn Salas, represented by Mrs. gallery; Luzene Hill of K Art; and Gerald Chukwuma, with Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery. Each artist will produce one work, with some pieces containing several parts.