Miya Bailey Celebrates Opening Of 3rd Art Gallery, Nina Baldwin
The train for Peter Street is taking off and Atlanta is getting on.
On Friday, Sept. 6, the grand opening of Atlanta-based artist Miya Bailey’s newest gallery, “The Nina Baldwin Gallery” took place.
The opening of the gallery, named after famed writer and musicians James Baldwin and Nina Simone, is simultaneous with the debut of Bailey’s newest gallery exhibit, “My My: A Solo Art Exhibition. 100 New York’s By Miya Bailey”. The exhibit focusing on themes of childhood and adulthood utilized all three of Bailey’s owned locations. Bailey’s three exhibit galleries, collectively displayed approximately 100 pieces of art, all made from him.
Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Bailey moved to Atlanta seeking a fresh start away from the streets. “I’ve been in Atlanta since 1994, trying to get away from the streets,” he said, noting that his move was about pursuing a safer, more fulfilling path through art.
Bailey’s love for art began early, nurtured by his mother, who encouraged his talent from the time he was a baby. “My mom got me into art when I was really young. She said I was really getting good at it around two or three, so she had me drawing every day,” Bailey recounted. That foundation led to his deep dedication to the craft.
Bailey’s work is currently displayed across multiple galleries, including Peter Street Station’s “Hidden Gallery” (which featured Mike Flo DJing) where Bailey’s more affordable pieces for first-time collectors and on the other side “Old Rabbit Gallery,” featuring Bailey’s larger, more high-end works aimed at seasoned collectors. These multiple entry points give art lovers and collectors a chance to explore different themes and styles in each location. The Nina Baldwin Gallery is currently located next door to the Old Rabbit Gallery.
“This is to show artists what you can do,” Bailey said, calling others to follow in his footsteps.
She hopes the success of his exhibits inspires other artists to take similar leaps. “I hope other artists with that competitive spirit use this inspiration to do the same thing I just did—open more art galleries owned by artists, put on your people, put on your friends, and activate the spaces,” he urged.
When discussing the theme of the exhibit, Bailey touched on the concept of the “inner child” and the “loss of innocence.” His artwork embodies a balance of both joy and stress, reflecting the yin-yang nature of life. “The inner child is about keeping that joy and playfulness inside us, while the loss of innocence is about how the world can harden us, making us lose that joy,” Bailey explained. This balance is a central theme running through his pieces, highlighting the transition from childhood to adulthood and the emotional toll it can take.
Bailey’s Business Partner & Chief Curator Plushette Ellis spoke to the ambitious nature of his projects, especially as they relate to the expansion of his galleries. “Miya can paint super fast, and he’s super intentional,” Ellis noted, highlighting Bailey’s work ethic and creative vision. Together, they have worked to preserve the cultural legacy of Atlanta’s Castleberry Hill art district while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of what community-based art can achieve,“To collaborate in facilitating and preserving the culture of Castleberry Hill Art District and Miya’s legacy when it comes to art, philanthropy, and community has been amazing, because those are my mission and values as well,” she added.
Ellis explained that Bailey acquired the space in April and immediately began preparing for the exhibits. “We just hit the ground running. We knew we were going to fill this space for his solo show, and with the opening of Old Rabbit in September last year, it’s just been amazing,” Ellis said. The opening of Nina Baldwin during Bailey’s solo exhibition was the “cherry on top” of all the hard work.
Frederick Ross III, an attendee of the Baldwin gallery, was particularly struck by the artist’s depictions of black identity. “I’m loving the callbacks to childhood things like the Smurfs, Ernie and Bert, and Garfield. But one thing I really find interesting is his depiction of Black faces,” Ross commented. Ross pointed out that Bailey’s work emphasizes Black features like lips and noses, elements often associated with African heritage.
Ross drew parallels between Bailey’s bold artistic choices and the way Black artists and communities have taken ownership of their representation in media,“White people made it iniquitous, they used it to demean, demote, and degrade Black people. We’re going to take it and turn it into something positive,” Ross said.
Bailey’s work, through its depictions of both innocence and struggle, childhood nostalgia and racial history, creates a dialogue about Black identity in contemporary art. “You depict me in a negative way, but I don’t have to see this as a negative. You knew you wanted Black people in your media, but your racism wouldn’t allow you to bring us in fully,” Ross explained.
Each gallery has their own unique identity. While Old Rabbit focuses on contemporary works, Nina Baldwin has a specific mission to uplift underrepresented voices in the art world. “Nina Baldwin will focus on women curators and queer artists,” Bailey explained. His goal with this space is to fill the voids he has noticed in the art world, particularly the lack of women-run galleries and spaces dedicated to LGBTQIA+ artists.
On a personal level, Bailey expressed deep satisfaction. “You know what’s important? Seeing my mom, my friends. I don’t see my friends much, so all my friends from back home flew in, and all my friends from all over the place were here,” Bailey said, describing the event as a family reunion of sorts. The outpouring of support from loved ones and the Atlanta community left a lasting impression on Bailey. “Atlanta always supports, and I love this city.”
The Nina Baldwin Gallery is located at 309 Peters Street Unit 1, Atlanta GA 30313.
“My My: A Solo Art Exhibition. 100 New Works By Miya Bailey”, will be up until November 6, 2024
