Speed Art Museum Announces Deana Lawson and Brandon Ndife as Sam Gilliam Visiting Artists

The Speed Art Museum has selected photographer Deana Lawson and sculptor Brandon Ndife as participants in the Sam Gilliam Visiting Artist Program. This initiative, established in 2024 through a partnership with the Sam Gilliam Foundation, aims to honor the influence of Louisville on Gilliam's career by inviting two prominent artists annually to create new work inspired by the city's communities, history, and cultural environment. Lawson, born in 1979, and Ndife, born in 1991 and raised in Louisville, will conduct research, engage with local residents, and develop new artistic projects. Their work will be showcased through exhibitions and public programs at the museum. The program emphasizes the artists' connections to place, community, and personal experience, aligning with its goal of fostering meaningful artistic engagement with Louisville's evolving landscape.