SUMMER & OCTOBER 2025 NEWSLETTER
Photo by Marsha Cooke
Dear Readers,
As we enter the cooler days of fall and winter, it is also the height of the art season. I am looking forward to viewing the works of some of the most important humans of every culture, artists. I encourage you to purchase museum memberships and support contemporary artists. This is one of the most enriching gifts you can give to yourself, your family, and your colleagues.
Art is a record of our time and timeless as well. What we know about humans as far back as prehistory can be traced to those first artists who drew on the walls of their caves.
I thank the many kind and curious individuals who visited my studio at ART157A in Jersey City during the JCAST Open Studio. They purchased sample boards to frame, oracle decks, and Glyphs on the Pages of a 1957 Encyclopedia. I was surprised and, of course, delighted to be included on the promotional poster.
Blessings.
Cheryl
CONTEMPORARY VOLUMES
Group Show Curated by Bryant Small “Kaleidoscopes”
MORRIS MUSEUM (A Smithsonian Affiliate)
Opening Reception 6–9 PM
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
October 24, 2025 - March 2026
Kaleidoscope, Breathers, 2020
Kaleidoscope, Nourish, 2020
Kaleidoscope, Balanced, 2020
Kaleidoscope, Male, 2020
A group exhibit curated by Bryant Smalls, Contemporary Volumes features works that utilize books as both medium and inspiration. Included in the show are my Kaleidoscopes, which are derived from a program that transformed my hand-painted gouache and metallic ink series, Glyphs on the Pages of a 1957 Encyclopedia.
The Kaleidoscope open-edition print series consists of digital mutations of these hand-painted works. They were birthed and channeled to me by a mythological, matriarchal society of my creation, one that has no word for “war.” Their life-affirming ethos is superimposed upon and obscures patriarchal-focused definitions.
The threads that connect my practice across multiple media are world history, racial and gender politics, and the power of words and beauty. I explore the intersections of these histories within African and African American cultures, world cultures, and the authors of “HIStory.” Each Kaleidoscope identifies as a unique fingerprint. From definitions to hand paintings to virtual works, the series continues to evolve alongside the shifting of media, technologies, and contemporary world history.
The Kaleidoscopes, as well as an Oracle deck from the Glyphs series, are available for purchase at the link below.
ARCHIVE
Profiles from the Art World
by Cheryl R. Riley
EBONY APR 2007
GARY SIMMONS The Art of Erasure
GARY SIMMONS The Art of Erasure, pages 108 to 112
It’s difficult to believe, but there was a time when too many talented artists of the African Diaspora were not receive the media coverage and institutional support they deserved. While I lived in San Francisco, I served on the board of the first site-specific artist residency in the U.S., Capp Street Project. Founded and primarily funded by Anne Hatch, the artists’ wildest and most extraordinary visions were realized in our space.
After a year of reviewing proposals, I asked if there were no African American artists who qualified. Their surprise made it clear the idea hadn’t even occurred to them. When they asked for my help, I replied that I already had by raising the question.
From then on, we welcomed artists from the U.S. and abroad. One sealed and flooded the entire space; another filled it with live chickens.
It became my mission and honor to spotlight what had been overlooked: the vital contributions of artists of African descent. Through friends like Essence editor Harriette Cole, I connected with Black media outlets, leveraging my own design press coverage to gain access. I began writing passionately about the artists who inspired me, emerging and mid-career creators whose brilliance moved me deeply.
This venture also opened up a side gig for me as an Art Advisor. I built some exceptional collections for people like actor Jesse Williams of Grey’s Anatomy and the recent Hotel Costiera, interior designer Joy Williams, owner of JOYFUL DESIGNS, and several corporate executives. I’ll be sharing these articles in future newsletters.
This side venture culminated with my feature on the cover of Jersey City Magazine (Winter 2019, photo by Tatsuro Nishimura) for my article “Artisans of 150 Bay Street,” just before COVID-19.
You can read it in the link, pages 108 to 112
JCAST 36TH ANNUAL OPEN STUDIO
THE JERSEY CITY ART & STUDIO TOUR
October 3 to 5, 2025
I'm giving special recognition and heartfelt thanks to everyone who visited my studio during the 36th Annual Jersey City Art & Studio Tour. I'm so grateful to all the art lovers, friends, and new faces who stopped by, shared their stories, and supported local art.
It was a truly inspiring weekend, full of creativity, connection, and community. Your presence made it all the more meaningful.
WE CURATE 2!
ART 150 GALLERY
July 14th - August 16th 2025
Photo by Rene Saheb
My “Pot Post-it” is a tribute to an extraordinary friend from my days living in San Francisco. My late friend, British-born Roger, recently passed away at 80 years old. He was charming and erudite. Conversations with him were always enlightening, and he composed beautifully poetic descriptions of his products. I began saving some of them, and this show felt like the perfect venue to honor him.
CHERYL’S ARTIST PICK OF THE MONTH
DOURIEAN FLETCHER
“JEWELRY OF THE AFROFUTURE”
AT MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN
2 Columbus Circle, NYC
Through March 15, 2026
Those of you who follow my Instagram (@cherylrriley) have already been treated to a peek at this marvelous exhibit currently on view at MAD. I plan to go back so I can see more of the works, as the gallery was so crowded during the opening.
Rufus E. Jones and Jill Rosenberg Jones of the James Weldon Johnson Residency with Douriean Fletcher at the opening. Photo by Cheryl R. Riley
Me, MAD Jewelry Curator Barbara Paris Gifford, Douriean Fletcher. Photo by Rene Saheb | Douriean, Sebastian Grant (Independent Curator), and Me. Photo by Rene Saheb
On December 12, 2020, I met Douriean in a Zoom meeting of fellows from the James Weldon Johnson Foundation residency to discuss a fundraiser. Douriean shared that she created the jewelry for the movie Black Panther! I had most definitely noticed it , and LOVED it! I immediately reached out to our amazing Jewelry Curator at the Museum of Arts and Design, Barbara Paris Gifford. I offered to get Douriean’s permission to share her email and cell number.
Needless to say, they immediately bonded. Barbara recognized her gifts, and I have seldom seen the gallery so packed with visitors.