Basketball: On the Court and Canvas (Talk)
This two-part program brings together Harlem Globetrotter Brawley “Cheese” Chisholm and artist and author Jamel Robinson to examine the intersection of art, athletics, identity, and aspiration, inspired by Titus Kaphar’s Ascension VI, on view in Everything Has a Story. In this monumental mixed-media work, Kaphar reimagines basketball star Zion Williamson’s rise through the lens of the Greek myth of Achilles, highlighting the pressures that accompany athletic fame.
Through conversation, Chisholm and Robinson consider the cultural and aesthetic dimensions of sport—from movement and materiality to fashion and the metaphor of the Black body in contemporary life. Chisholm also shares insights from his collegiate and professional career, reflecting on pathways for young athletes and the realities of elite performance.
Learn more about the accompanying workshop on our website, for which advance registration is recommended.
Brawley “Cheese” Chisholm III is a three-time Emmy-nominated entertainer and longtime Harlem Globetrotter whose 16-season career has brought him to audiences in more than 60 countries. A Ball State University graduate, he is founder of CHAMP, a nonprofit empowering youth through financial literacy, wellness, creativity, and career development, and co-founder of EMCC Media, leading culturally impactful campaigns for national brands. A Brooklyn and Bronx native, Chisholm works at the intersection of sports, storytelling, and mentorship, inspiring young people through his motivational series Confidently Different.
Jamel Robinson is a multidisciplinary artist working across painting, assemblage, sculpture, installation, poetry, and performance. Rooted in personal narrative, his work confronts the historic and contemporary grief of the Black experience in America. His art has been acquired by major institutions including the Hudson River Museum and the Bunker Artspace Museum. His solo exhibition Beauty from Ashes at the Hudson River Museum, featured in The New York Times and CBS News, brought national attention to his practice. Robinson, a Harlem native, continues to create work deeply connected to community, identity, and creative resilience.
Image: Titus Kaphar (American, b. 1976). Ascension VI, 2024. Oil on canvas on panel with brass nails, 108 1/4 × 78 × 3 inches. Art Bridges.
Support provided by Art Bridges.
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3565679-0
