SNS Presents: Danny Baez

We sat down with the founder of REGULARNORMAL, and co-founder of MECA Art Fair and ARTNOIR, Danny Baez, to chat about creating a community space in NYC for artists. We also touched on his work organizing shows and his favorite artists at the moment.

SNS: Let’s start off with who you are.

Danny: Yes, of course, thank you. I am Danny Baez, I was born in Quisqueya, commonly known as the Dominican Republic. I came to the United States when I was 20, and up to this point, I’ve had the privilege of co-founding 3 projects in the past 8 years. Those endeavors are ARTNOIR, which is a collective initiated by friends, minority owned with a female majority, rooted in New York City. The second endeavor is MECA which stands for Mercado Caribeno which means Caribbean Market. It’s an international art fair in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that takes place in November. The latest is REGULARNORMAL, a community space for artists. It functions as a gallery but we operate with different values. We are creating a space where artists feel support and love. Where they can talk, ask questions, establish new relationships with other artists and have a good time.

SNS: What sparked your interest in becoming a curator? 

Danny: I don’t necessarily consider myself a “curator” for two reasons -  and that’s my personal opinion it doesn’t mean that this resonates with everybody else. Some folks tend to get offended when you use the word “curator” and you don’t possess, say, a diploma in Art History, or a PhD, or other relevant titles. Also, some people call themselves “curators” overusing the term and applying it too vaguely. I organize shows. At first, I just wanted to know if I was even capable of “curating” something. I wondered what the reactions from others would be when they saw the works on the wall and the possible dialogue among artists.

SNS: ARTNOIR - what is it and why did you co-found it?

Danny: ARTNOIR is an art non-profit spearheaded by Larry Ossei-Mensah, a Ghanaian American curator from the Bronx. He and some friends started to get together and visit shows, museums, institutions, art gatherings etc. Given that the majority of the people on these “field trips”, including myself, were Black and Brown, it was decided that this was something more than friends getting together. Collectively we chose the name ARTNOIR.

One of the main missions or goals of this collective is to nurture and connect the upcoming generations of Black and Brown cultural agents, curators, artists and everyone else in the art world. To make them feel more welcome and to establish new relationships in the art world with people who represent our different communities. However, we don't discriminate - everybody's welcome.

SNS: Who did you co-found ARTNOIR with?

Danny: ARTNOIR was co-founded with Larry Ossei-Mensah, Carolyn Concepcion, Nadia Nascimento, Melle Hock, Isis Arias and Jane Aiello. Five women and two guys, all based in New York City. 

SNS : Are most of the artists you represent or work with from New York?

Danny: Yeah. Because the majority of activities in the art world happens in this city. Lot of these artists are based and work in New York. Me too. 

The biggest percentage of the global art market belongs to New York City, which holds 48% of it. One could say this is the epicenter for the art + commerce relationship. The community of artists in this city is probably the largest.

SNS: Do you make art yourself?

Danny: I’ve exhibited once in my life. I don't even know where that piece is at. I would love to have it back. It was a collaboration between my brother - who can actually paint and draw, and myself. He lined up the drawing for me, then I made it into a silkscreen print, painted it, and filled it with color.

SNS: So you're more interested in organizing shows?

Danny: My father is a painter and my four brothers inherited artistic skills. They can draw and paint, even though they are not necessarily making art at the moment, they still possess the talent. Since I didn’t inherit any of that, I feel my forte is helping others get to where they need, or want to go - or at least I hope, to get them closer to their goals. What I  do best is amplify their voices with the “tools” I have at hand.

SNS: Who are some of your favorite artists at the moment? 

Danny: Excluding the people that I work with, some of my favorite artists, in general: David Hammons. He's such a legend, but he prefers not to be in the limelight and limits the amount of people that surround him. That adds to his appeal right? Also, David Alfaro Siqueiros, who was part of Los Tres Grandes from Mexico (alongside the artists José Clemente Orozco and the ever-famous Diego Rivera). Siqueiros is probably my favorite Mexican artist, ever. Another person that I admire with passion is Jacob Lawrence, a painter, who depicted African-American life with such vibrancy and finesse that all I can feel is joy each time I encounter one of his works. Belkis Ayón, Cuban, mystical and haunting works. Unfortunately, she passed away too young and in a very tragic manner. Ana Mendieta, Cuban too. In my opinion, one of the most amazing performance and video artists ever. She was also a painter. Just like Belkis, her life came to an end abruptly and at a very young age.  Alice Neel is on my list too. I truly love the portraits of people she knew and even her portraits of strangers are fantastic. To close this list, the mesmerizing and multifaceted, Noah Davis who sadly passed at the age of 32. On top of having been a prolific artist and a curator of sorts, he also co-founded the Underground Museum in Los Angeles.

SNS: So you recently opened your new gallery REGULARNORMAL. Can you walk us through it?

Danny: There are a plethora of artists that I've been working with, and new ones that came to me through them, through Instagram etc. There are enough artists to have a roster to put on exhibits and shows. A couple of friends and others asked me about eight years ago if I would be interested in starting a gallery - I always said no. I decided to do an art fair and to be involved with a non-profit. I don’t have an art history background, I come from advertising so a gallery was never in my plans - but here we are. Sometimes you can’t escape the thing that you are meant to be doing.

SNS: What are you currently working on? And what can we expect to see in the coming future?

Danny: Right now, this is our second show in this space. The first one opened on November 19, which was the “Privilege of Getting Together” a 16 artist exhibit. After that, on January 9th we opened Na’Ye Pérez’s show. This is his first solo show in New York City. Our third exhibition is a Queer artists’ show curated by the young artist, Bony Ramirez. This is his first curatorial project and we are very pumped about it! This spring there will be two solo shows by women. In between the shows, the second part of “The Privilege of Getting Together” is going to be hosted by Anna Zorina Gallery in Chelsea and the third one of the same series will be hopefully happening in Accra, Ghana in June with Gallery 1957. 

Another plan we have in mind is to allow others to curate and organize shows in this space. Young folks that are putting good work and effort into their art, but find themselves struggling to find a place to showcase their art or execute their curatorial skills.  

SNS: What do you look for in an artist when you're putting on a show?

Danny: My process of working with people is getting to know them. The relationship usually starts with me going to their studio or even their homes in some cases. If I'm allowed to ask a few personal questions in order to understand their process better, where they’re coming from and what they need or are looking for, I do. I don't prejudge. I just feel the vibe and the energy.

But again, my main thing is loyalty, respect, and honesty. If you have that, I will definitely get behind your work and practice. I’m also interested in the ways artists interact with each other, how they support their own community - not only the community they come from but the community of artists they belong to. It’s really appealing to me when I see that you can leave your ego “at the door” when others are succeeding and you can elevate others. It’s a beautiful thing if you can be of service to others.

SNS: Amazing!

Danny: As much as you can, you gotta go out of your way to be the best version of yourself and give the best of yourself to others, if you can. If you don't feel it, you don’t feel it - it’s okay. We’re human beings, you know, we all break down, go sideways. But my issues are my issues only. I don't have to blast others. The notion that being a jerk will help you gain any meaningful form of respect is fake.

Somebody asked me “how do you quantify success or what is success to you?” For me personally, it’s when you do a project - for example MECA, the art fair, and your friends travel out of their cities or their places, to go see your shit. That’s success. It's not the money, even though that’s part of it. Success to me is when people that you love get behind what you do and support it genuinely.

SNS: Is that what you’re trying to establish in this space too?

Danny: Based on my idea of success, I'm the “most successful motherfucker” in town right now. Because not only do people that I love come through, but artists do too. Young artists come here often to sit down to talk to me about what they’re doing, what they want to do and other non-art related things. They feel that in here, they can do whatever the fuck they want - always respecting the space and others of course. In that sense I consider myself victorious. People are meeting and connecting with other artists, finding mentors, supporting each other. That for me is success. I might not end up making a lot of money doing this and if I do it’s fine, I welcome that too. You know - I’m almost 40. I've done so many things - non-art related too - I’m always looking forward to what’s next.

A close friend told me a couple of months ago: “Look, you are now involved with a non-profit, an art fair and a gallery? What the fuck?” And right after, I replied, “There’s a 4th one. Just wait for it. It’s coming.” If God grants me life, health and energy I’ll do it. The things or projects I get to do are not only for me and the ones close to me, but for the common good as well - without greediness, you know? This is not my space, it’s our space. It’s yours - it’s yours. I'm just the one opening the doors. But when those doors are open they're open for everyone. That’s that.

Interview by Cody Simons

Photos by Jonathan Padilla

Artwork courtesy of artist Na’Ye Pérez and REGULARNORMAL.

Danny Báez

REGULARNORMAL

76 Bowery / Ground Floor

New York, NY 10013

[email protected]