SOCIAL SCULPTURE, a highlight of Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech,” stems from the late artist and designer’s desire to create space for Black creatives and young people. The installation offers a platform for Black cultural dialogue through lectures, poetry, performances, and workshops. In this spirit, the Brooklyn Museum has organized a three-part series with the New York–based collective BlackMass Publishing. Through its work, BlackMass grapples with the idiosyncrasies that make up the collective improvisation of African diasporic culture, combining archival photographs and found print materials with poetry and jazz.

In the second program of the series, enjoy a live performance by Kenyan composer and sound artist Nyokabi Kariũki. Based between Kenya and the United States, Kariũki uses sound to not only rediscover her culture but also highlight its significance—part of her commitment to preserving African thought, language, and stories.

Kariũki’s sonic imagination is ever-evolving, spanning from classical contemporary and experimental electronic music to sound art, pop, film, and (East) African musical traditions. She performs with piano, voice, electronics, and several instruments from the African continent, including the kalimba and djembe. Her concert works have been performed by notable ensembles such as Cello Octet Amsterdam and Third Coast Percussion, and she has received commissions from BBC Radio 3, Heartland Marimba, and more. Released in February 2022, her debut EP, peace places: kenyan memories (SA Recordings), was described as “deft” (Quietus) and “transcendent” (Guardian). Bandcamp wrote that she is “becoming a crucial voice in contemporary composition and experimental music.” Kariũki is currently working on her second record.

Tickets to Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech” on December 8, 2022, are required to attend this performance. After purchasing your ticket, RSVP to secure a seat, as space is limited. Those with exhibition tickets for earlier in the day may leave the Museum and return for the 4 pm performance. Member tickets are free. Not a Member? Join today!