Chicago-born art curator Easy Otabor has brought his unique perspective to the heart of Paris. As a key collaborator on Jordan Brand‘s District 23 initiative, Otabor has curated the Diaspora Renaissance exhibition, a powerful celebration of global cultures through contemporary art and design.
Rooted in his own experiences growing up in diverse communities, Otabor’s vision for the exhibition is to showcase the creative expressions of individuals from around the world, united by their shared heritage and desire to make sense of their place in the world. By bringing together 23 artists representing various diasporas, Otabor aims to foster a deeper understanding of cultural identity and its impact on artistic expression.
Easy Otabor & Youssouf Fofana
In this exclusive interview, Otabor delves into the inspiration behind the Diaspora Renaissance, the challenges and rewards of collaborating with Jordan Brand, and his hopes for the impact of District 23 on the 18th arrondissement community.
How did your upbringing in Chicago shape your perspective on art, fashion, and culture?
I was born in Chicago, but grew up all over Illinois. Moving to many different parts of the state showed me different perspectives, people and cultures. Being exposed to different people with backgrounds different from my own, who may have grown up watching shows or films I had not seen helped to shape the type of artists.
What inspired the concept of the Diaspora Renaissance exhibition?
I was excited to work with Youssouf Fofana right away on this exhibition and to create another way for people to understand who they are and the cultures they come from across the many diasporas in the world. Identity, cultural heritage and how you express that creatively on your own terms is what inspired the concept behind the exhibition.
How did you select the 23 artists featured in the exhibition?
We started with the statement for the exhibition, which was about showing how creative expression is the language we use to make sense of the worlds we occupy. It’s an experience I know and understand firsthand as a Nigerian American, and one Youssouf relates to as well as being of Senegalese and French origins. From there, we both looked at artists and their works who represent different perspectives as members of the global diaspora, and are using art to creatively express themselves and the root of “identity.” The artists featured are a mix of artists that I’ve shown and whose work I love, together with artists who Youssouf feels the same about and who represent the concept we wanted to bring to life.
What were the key challenges and opportunities in collaborating with Jordan Brand on this project?
Growing up in Chicago, Jordan was everything to me. So having the opportunity to be part of this project was an honor. The meaning and purpose behind District 23 was to give people the platform, tools and a space to develop their gifts and be in community with one another. Similarly, the gallery has become a platform to debut emerging artists alongside more established names, artists showing for the first time either in Paris or in a show. The response we’ve received from the community and the artists has been incredible.
How do you see District 23 impacting the 18th arrondissement and its community?
I’ve been working with Youssouf on the gallery portion of the project for a few months now, but the week of The One Finals was my first time coming into the space. You can feel the good energy on every floor, with all of the community really enjoying the space and feeling inspired. I hope this inspires everyone who comes through here to create platforms of their own that bring the community together.
