It’s not a secret that we love books at GRAZIA — especially art books. Not only do books bring color and soul into a space but they are a source of limitless inspiration. That’s why we are so excited to introduce you to the next book you need to add to your coffee table, bookshelf, or credenza: We Are Here: Visionaries of Color Transforming The Art World by Jasmin Hernandez. The book is a brilliant documentation of what is happening right now within the art world centered around interviews from 50 Black and Brown artists and art workers in the contemporary art world. It’s an intimate look into the studio practices and careers of BIPOC artists, curators, cultural producers, gallerists and collective founders. Hernandez is a Harlem-based arts writer, arts enthusiast and patron, who’s spent the last 10 years creating accessible, safe spaces for BIPOC and QTBIPOC artists. We Are Here is a natural extension of Hernandez’s Gallery Gurls, an award-winning digital space celebrating BIPOC + QTBIPOC in contemporary art since 2012.
Below GRAZIA chats with the arts writer and author about her book, her journey into the art world, her online work prior to writing the book and that iconic 90s Versace exhibition that changed her life.
GRAZIA: Hi Jasmin, how are you? How’s your day going?
Jasmin Hernandez: Hi. I’m doing great and the day…It’s pretty good, it’s good! I’m actually moving so my house is like, starting to become a wreck (laughs). But yeah, I’m good.
[From talking to Jasmin, you’ll feel this warm, empathetic, familiar essence that she eloquently exudes — so it’s completely on brand for her to ask us how we were doing as we interview her]
Jasmin: How have you been though? Like just day by day, like, how are you doing? I think that’s the most important thing to ask.
GRAZIA: I’m doing really good. Thank you for asking. I’m a natural introvert — well, extroverted introvert — so the pandemic and working remotely, it’s kind of just like a natural organic thing for me. My home has just been like this little safe space, a cocoon.
GRAZIA: How are you day by day? How’s the past year been for you, all things considering?
It’s been great. I’ve also leaned into my inner introvert, so hardcore. I’ve been home for like the past 15 months and I’ve loved it. When the pandemic first started, the book had been finished, so I was just editing at that point. I would wake up and edit the book from the comfort of home. So yeah, I’ve been home all this time. The book tour was completely virtual so I would just have to look, you know, cute from the waist up and sit at my kitchen table in front of my bookshelf. And that was it. It was amazing. I’ve thrived. I have thrived inside my house
Your bookshelf is stacked! Like bookshelf goals.
[laughs] Thank you!
So, prior to authoring We Are Here, you created the online art platform, Gallery Gurls. Can you tell me a little bit about your work there? How did that concept come about?
It’s a website that I originally started in 2012 with someone else — that’s why it’s plural. I co-founded it with another woman named Ann Samuels. I met her at Sotheby’s where we were the only two Black women at a non-credit continuing ed course about careers in the art world. She then bowed out and I continued on with the site. It [Gallery Gurls] exist to amplify Black and brown voices specifically Black women in the art world. So it’s like all avenues within the art world but always Black and brown folks and always ALL identities. From exhibition reviews, to interviews with folks in the art world, covering studio visits and there’s also a style vertical where we cover stylish art events and fashion exhibits in New York and beyond. Basically, it’s celebration of Black and Brown folks in the art world.
“I’m decolonizing and just reading and reading and digging and digging and just unearthing information and it’s like we’re always here—Black folks have always been here”
When I was reading the book, it just felt so warm and familiar. Almost like flipping through a high school yearbook or you know, your grandma’s family album on the coffee table. Was this intentional?
I love that! You know, it’s funny because different people have said those things and they always say it in that order. Like, it’s a family album, or it’s like a book you’d see, you know, if you’re in a salon and you’re flipping through looking at hairstyles. I actually love those metaphors because, you know, it does seems familial, it seems like peer to peer love—very communal. So I love those metaphors when I hear them. Yes, absolutely it was the intention. The intention was for it to be open and safe, welcoming, warm, non academic and non elitist—just open and universal to everyone. So yeah, that was definitely the intention.
What was that one defining moment that started your love affair with art? What piece of work or museum visit changed your life?
I’m gonna give you two: One moment is when I went to my first museum ever when I was 17 years old. It was the MET and I saw the Versace exhibit at the Costume Institute. I grew up in Queens, New York in a working class, low income, Dominican immigrant household so naturally my mother was not taking me out to museums, so I had to find these things on my own. I learned about fashion and art through print magazines, devouring ‘The Source’ and ‘Vogue.’ So when I went to that first museum exhibit, and I saw the Versace show—that was mind blowing. Ever since then, I just loved going to museums.
A 90s Versace Exhibition — swooning. Okay, I’m dying to hear about the other moment!
So, another moment — and this is the same year that I found that the website in 2012 — I went to an opening, at the Armory for an art fair. While there, I saw Kehinde Wiley. As you know Kehinde, is this very dapper and regal artist. He had on like, you know, he puts on like those Kente cloth suits, like custom suits and was just swagged out looking absolutely amazing. I remember just being slightly starstruck that I couldn’t even talk to him. Just seeing him, this beautiful Black man swagged out, owning this space was amazing. That was just like — it was something special. From that moment I was like, I have to continue on in this world. I have to just continue in this art world, going to these art fairs etc. because look at the beauty I’m next to, look who I’m seeing. I just had to remain in this world.
What’s inspiring you right now? Outside of art—what are you reading or watching?
Right now I’m reading ‘Minor Feelings’ by Cathy Park Hong — which has been a big source of inspiration and education for me. Before that I was re-reading a lot of Bell Hooks’ ‘We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity’ so, yeah that’s what I’ve been reading. As far as shows, I’ve been watching a lot of things. I recently just watched ‘Halston’ on Netflix which was cool. Oh, I was late to it, but I just watched ‘Watchmen’ and it was amazing. It was amazing because of the focus on Tulsa and obviously with the 100 year anniversary, we’re learning more because all these documentaries are coming out now but ‘Watchmen’ was one of the first pieces on TV to address the Tulsa race massacre. ‘Watchmen’ overall just like the acting, the writing, the visuals — I thought it was a pretty sick. Yeah, I slept!
See more images from ‘We Are Here: Visionaries of Color Transforming the Art World’ below:
To learn more about the happenings in the art world or to read more of Jasmin’s writing visit Gallery Gurls and don’t forget to pick up a copy of We Are Here: Visionaries of Color Transforming the Art.
All products featured on GRAZIA are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Grazia may earn an affiliate commission.
