Events
Souleo has curated events in collaboration with noteworthy institutions and brands including Museum of Arts and Design, Columbia University, New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and Newark Museum of Art (where he formerly served as the manager of public programs).
Highlights below.
Museum of Arts and Design
Art Smith: Jewelry, Jazz & Jete
Check out this highlight reel for the event, Art Smith: Jewelry, Jazz & Jete. The event celebrated the modernist jeweler Art Smith. In honor of Smith, jazz singer Lezlie Harrison performed a special selection of songs that embody the spirit of Smith’s work. The evening also featured a modern dance performance by Kevin Boseman set to recordings of Art Smith’s recollections of his life and work, a screening of a short profile of the jeweler from the PBS series Craft in America, and a conversation with jewelry expert Sebastian Grant on Smith’s artistic inspirations and legacy.
Full audio recording of the event is available upon request.
Durag AsseMbly
Check out this highlight reel for the virtual event Durag Assembly. The event explored themes within and inspired by the monumental durag installation created by MAD’s 2019 Artist Fellow Anthony Olubunmi Akinbola for the exhibition Local Import. Akinbola and a lineup of special guests, discussed the history of the durag, its cultural relevance, and how the durag continues to serve as inspiration for creatives.
Brookyln Public Library & Center for Brooklyn History
The People's Ball 2024
Check out this highlight from The People's Ball (co-curated by Souleo) held at the Brooklyn Public Library. In this clip is a runway celebration for the 95th birthday of the late New York Times street fashion photographer, Bill Cunningham, featuring his muses Marilyn Kirschner, Lauren Ezersky, Jean Stone, Lana Turner, Tziporah Salamon and Amy Fine Collins.
Videography: Khalil Stephens
Night in the library: The philosophy of hip-hop
Check out this recording of the event, Night in the Library: The Philosophy of Hip-Hop. Souleo guest curated and hosted a portion of the event including a conversation with Dapper Dan and April Walker and pop-up fashion shows featuring designs and wearable art by Dapper Dan, Walker Wear, Moshood, Triple T-shirts by Beau McCall, and Hubane.
ABC7 NY EyeWitness News Covers Night in the library: The philosophy of hip-hop
Check out what ABC had to say about Night in the Library: The Philosophy of Hip-Hop.
The People's Ball 2023
Check out this highlight reel for The People's Ball held at the Brooklyn Public Library. Souleo guest curated and co-hosted the People's Heroes Awards segment honoring Dapper Dan, Pat Cleveland, April Walker, Cindy Campbell, Asmeret Berhe-Lomax, and Aura Mejia.
NY1 Covers The People's Ball
Check out what NY1 had to say about The People's Ball. Souleo guest curated a portion of the event including a pop-up exhibition celebrating the Grandassa Models and Harlem Institute of Fashion. Plus, he served as a runway commentator and guest judge for the fashion competition.
Black is Beautiful: 60th Anniversary of the Transformative Fashion Show, Naturally ‘62
Check out this recording of the event Black is Beautiful: 60th Anniversary of the Transformative Fashion Show, Naturally ‘62.
The Big Anniversary: Fort Greene’s Soul Summit Music Festival Turns 20
Check out this recording of the event, The Big Anniversary: Fort Greene’s Soul Summit Music Festival Turns 20.
Press Highlights
New York Public Library
Press Highlights
NBC Covers Souleo's NYPL Programs
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Showing Out: Fashion In Harlem
Check out this recording of the event, Showing Out: Fashion in Harlem. The talk celebrated the Harlem Institute of Fashion and included a mini-runway show. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition, Showing Out: Fashion in Harlem.
Talks at the Schomburg: Ntozake Shange
Check out this clip from the event Talks at he Schomburg: Ntozake Shange, presented in conjunction with the exhibition, i found god in myself: a celebration of Ntozake Shange's for colored girls...
Barnard College
STUFF
Check out this recording of the virtual event, STUFF celebrating Dianne Smith’s installation in the lobby of Barnard College’s Milstein Center, and pay tribute to the 45th anniversary Broadway debut of Ntozake Shange's ('70) groundbreaking work, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.
Rutgers UniversiTy
God is a Dandy!
Check out this recording of the virtual event, God is a Dandy! The event was a virtual mini-symposium on Black dandyism, generally defined as a style of dress that combines African Diasporan elements with European influences. Inspired by artist, Jerry Gant.
AARP, Encore.org & SAGE Center Harlem
LGBTQ+ Lessons on Creativity and Connecting Generations.
Check out this recording of the virtual event, LGBTQ+ Lessons on Creativity and Connecting Generations. The event highlighted how creativity and intergenerational connections can help us to answer the following questions: How can creativity help us address life’s challenges? How can intergenerational relationships keep the creative juices flowing? What are the most creative solutions to the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation among older and younger adults? Particularly, what can we learn from the LGBTQ+ community on National Coming Out Day?
Newark Museum of Art
Late Thursdays: FEMPower
Check out this highlight reel for the event Late Thursdays: FEMPower.
Late Thursdays: For Freedoms
Check out this highlight reel for the event Late Thursdays: For Freedoms.
Mother & MUse
Artists Adrienne Wheeler and Adebunmi Gbadebo talk about the role their mothers Elizabeth Wheeler and Brenda Ravenell played in their personal and professional development.
Additional Newark Museum of Art Highlights
Press Highlights
Coming Soon!
Beau McCall: Buttons On! at the Museum of Craft and Design (San Francisco, CA).
On view May 10 through September 14, 2025.
Curated by Souleo.
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