A Tuscan dwelling serves as a haven for Black queer artists, fostering artistic endeavors and relaxation.
MQBMBQ Residency Embraces Rest, Creative Exchange, and Radical Imagination for its Anniversary
The MQBMBQ residency, a unique cultural program that supports Black queer artists, recently celebrated its anniversary by taking a different approach. For the special occasion, the focus shifted from intense productivity to honoring rest, creative exchange, and radical imagination.
Located in the picturesque Turchese villa in Tuscany, designed by Italian architect Oreste Martelli Castaldi, the retreat welcomed four artists handpicked by a curatorial board: Justen Leroy, Precious Okoyomon, YAV, and Elliot Jerome Brown Jr.
Each artist brought their unique practices to the retreat, complementing the villa's natural and historical beauty. Elliott Jerome Brown Jr.'s photography work captured the essence of shared space, while Precious Okoyomon's practice delved deeply into the relationship between the natural world, history, time, and race. Justen Leroy's exploration of Black sound and sonic environments resonated powerfully within the Tuscan landscape. YAV's physical language and interaction with the villa's architecture added an embodied, responsive layer to the setting.
The retreat emphasized the importance of slowing down for creative spark and personal rejuvenation. Each evening, the artists shared a text or piece of inspiration over dinner, fostering a spirit of creative exchange. The artists were encouraged to balance rest and creative work during their stay, allowing them to "slow down, breathe, and simply exist."
The MQBMBQ residency has formed long-term collaborations with luxury brands such as Bulgari and Loro Piana, along with Jean Paul Gaultier. These partnerships not only support the residency's cultural programming but also help elevate the profile and impact of the artists involved. By promoting Black queer creativity through high-profile brand engagement, MQBMBQ maintains an emphasis on nurturing artistic freedom and holistic wellbeing.
The MQBMBQ retreat is more than just an artist residency; it is a groundbreaking cultural program that combines mentorship, artistic creation, rest, and cross-sector collaboration. By offering a space outside institutional confines, artists are able to fully inhabit, reshape, and claim as their own. MQBMBQ continues to empower Black queer artists within a transformative Tuscan environment.
The MQBMBQ retreat, while emphasizing artistic creation, also encourages a balanced lifestyle, promoting mindfulness and personal growth through its focus on rest and creative exchange. The fusion of fashion-and-beauty brands, such as Bulgari and Loro Piana, with the residency serves to elevate the artist's profile and uphold the importance of holistic wellbeing. Home-and-garden, in the form of the picturesque Turchese villa, provides a serene backdrop for outdoor-living and fosters an environment for nurturing self-development and radical imagination.
