A conversation between Mistura Allison and Justin Randolph Thompson
This conversation brings curator and researcher Mistura Allison in dialogue with artist and director of The Recovery Plan Justin Randolph Thompson. The exchange is dedicated to thinking about the role and methods of convening amongst intellectuals and creatives of African descent and the amplification of individual and collective agency. Drawing upon the Second Congress of Black Writers and Artists which took place in 1959 in Rome bringing together a broad range of foundational figures of Black thought, the exchange reflects upon contemporary parallels and invites the audience to consider the contemporary need and possibilities of these global gestures towards interconnectivity and aspirational imaginings.
This event is organized by The Recovery Plan for NYU as a part of an ongoing community engagement collaboration.
Featured Biographies
Mistura Allison
RESEARCHER, CURATOR, AND ART HISTORIAN
Mistura Allison is a researcher, curator and art historian. She is the founder of ashikọ, a visually driven research platform inspired by Africa and its Diaspora. Currently, she serves as Curator and Project Coordinator at Villa Romana in Florence, engaging in transnational artistic practices with a focus in contemporary art and advancing methodologies of decentralised exhibition-making. Her work focuses on research-based practices engaging with the plurality of contemporary Afro-Diasporic visual and oral productions.
Justin Randolph Thompson
ARTIST
Justin Randolph Thompson is an artist and Co-founder and Director of Black History Month Florence and The Recovery Plan. He has exhibited, performed and lectured widely and is the recipient of numerous awards including a 2021 Creative Capital Award.