Image via Complex Original
Swizz Beatz has been busy adding art pieces to his ever-growing The Dean Collection, which at this stage, is a pretty extensive amount of art for him and his family to enjoy. For those of you wanting a more extensive look at what kind of art Swizz likes and owns, you'll have a chance to, in real life, during Art Basel Miami Beach this year. Swizz will be curating an exhibition at SCOPE Miami Beach 2014, featuring pieces from The Dean Collection.
Earlier in the year, Complex reported that Swizz had bought and was installing a 19-foot sculpture by KAWS in his home, and since then, his intriguing collection has only grown. Swizz continually buys and shines light on the illest work from renowned artists around the globe (and also those on the come-up), including Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, Sam Francis, and Lyle Owerko. Check out the latest additions and which artists got mentions in A Guide to Recent Art Pieces Swizz Beatz Has Co-Signed.
Unknown by Todd James (2014)
Date: Oct. 30, 2014
Swizz posted a picture of one of Todd James' pieces admiring his use of color. A little later the same day, he posted an image with the artist announcing that he had purchased some of his work with the caption, "Don't play :)."
Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee by CJ Hendry (2014)
Date: Oct. 29, 2014
Swizz reposted a piece by Australian artist CJ Hendry on his Instagram. He stated that it was 100% Dean Collection-approved and noted the impressive fact that Hendry's large scale hyper-realistic drawings were made using only a pen.
The Kiss by Cleon Peterson (2014)
Date: Oct. 28, 2014
Swizz has made it clear that he is a fan of Cleon Peterson's work by posting many images of the artist's work on his Instagram in the last couple months. Swizz recently purchased Peterson's The Kiss, a huge graphic piece.
This is Our House by Jeffrey Gibson (2014)
Date: Oct. 21, 2014
Swizz shared this image from the Native American artist's latest exhibition and expressed his enthusiasm for the work.
"Anonymous" series by Brett Amory (2014)
Date: Oct. 21, 2014
Swizz shared this image of Brett Amory's "Anonymous" series, stating that it is "The Dean Collection-approved." As Amory is currently exhibiting his work in Miami, expect to see Swizz posting about a new Amory purchase around Basel time.
Unknown by Doze Green (1982)
Date: Oct. 18, 2014
Frequent The Dean Collection contributor Doze Green gifted Swizz this piece from 1982. Swizz has been promoting Green's latest exhibition, which opens on November 20 at the Jonathan Levine Gallery, saying that it's a "must-see" on his Instagram.
Love is the Drug by Richard Mosse (2012)
Date: Oct. 18, 2014
Mosse's surreal photography captures conflict in glorious technicolor, using a variety of methods to inject bold colors into his otherwise harrowing images. Swizz is on the look-out for this piece by Mosse entitled Love is the Drug, saying that he needs to add it to The Dean Collection ASAP. Looking at his track record, we're expecting him to announce his acquisition of a Mosse print any day now.
Air Candy: Planes by Erik Jones (2014)
Date: Oct. 10, 2014
Swizz shared this image of himself in front of his latest Dean Collection purchase. A huge painting by Erik Jones titled Air Candy: Planes, the work features a juxtaposition between a monochromatic, realistic skull and the dazzling, technicolor, and geometric background. Clearly excited about the painting, Swizz posted a photo of Jones working on the piece in preparation for his new show a day before he announced his acquisition of it.
Unknown by Damien Hirst (2014)
Date: Oct. 11, 2014
Damien Hirst and Swizz Beatz rocked the art world when they announced that they would be collaborating last year. This week, Swizz low-key revealed the fruits of this artistic collaboration in an adorable Instagram photo of his son doing the zombie dance. Last year, Swizz posted photos of him and Hirst working together on some work, but the results have been kept from the public eye until now. Stenciled icons typical of Hirst's work, including guns, skulls, rockets and butterflies built in the style of his iconic spin paintings make up the one of a kind visually arresting piece made by the pair.
Make Art Not War by Alexander Mijares (2014)
Date: Oct. 7, 2014
Last month, Swizz co-signed this dope sculpture by Alexander Mijares. The piece is part of an international collection titled "Make Art Not War" by Mijares, which is a series of sculpted guns in a variety of colors. Swizz highlighted the only gun made out of 24-carat gold.
A Struggle of Will by Cleon Peterson (2014)
Date: Oct. 7, 2015
Early in October, Swizz cosigned a piece by future Dean Collection contributor, LA-based Cleon Peterson, titled A Struggle of Will. On his Instagram, Swizz expressed his appreciation for the “movement” and dynamic nature of Peterson's work, which depicts harsh realities of the world in illustrative style using only black, red, and white.
La Cage Avant Quil Ne Soit Trop Tard by Sandra Chevrier (2014)
Date: Oct. 7, 2014
Swizz had clearly been eyeing French artist Sandra Chevrier's work, having posted images of her art on his Instagram with the label “#thedeancollection approved” before officially welcoming La Cage Avant Quil Ne Soit Trop Tard to The Dean Collection. He co-signed this triptych that blends realism and pop art. The work has comic icons such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Green Arrow, among others imprinted on the somber face of a woman.
Custom Piece by Conor Harrington (2014)
Date: Sept. 30, 2014
In order to deck out his studio, Swizz enlisted past Dean Collection contributor Conor Harrington to work on the space. He has since been a supporter of Harrington's work, posting samples all over his Instagram and attending Harrington's exhibitions. Harrington completed this dope portrait on one of Swizz's studio walls on the last day of a week-long trip to New York, when he also completed murals on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Don't Look Back by D*Face (2013)
Date: Sept. 29, 2014
Swizz cosigned this piece by prominent street artist D*Faceon the heels of his newest and largest exhibition, “Scars and Stripes.” D*Face, who started working as an artist a little over a decade ago, often explores themes of character, iconography, and media within his work. He aims to prompt reflection on “the increasingly bizarre” popular culture that surrounds us. "Scars and Stripes" is an extension of these themes, focusing on the notion of the “American Dream” and the ideas of fame and Hollywood.
Commission by Michael Vasquez (2014)
Date: Sept. 27, 2014
Late last month, Swizz shared this photo of a work-in-progress commission for The Dean Collection by Michael Vasquez. Vasquez is a Miami-based painter whose work explores the complexities of gang culture and inner city youth. His rich and evocative paintings have been exhibited across America.
Unknown by Doze Green (2014)
Date: Sept. 17, 2014
Hip-hop pioneer and artist Doze Green contributed these two paintings to The Dean Collection early in September. Green, who has been working since the '70s, has roots in street art and is a self-described “modern painter” and “cubist”. His graphic and energetic work blends cubism and other abstract forms with illustration.
We Are by Skyler Grey (2013)
Date: Aug. 27, 2014
Swizz is already instilling his passion for the arts in his young son, Kasseem Dean Jr, who at eight years old, has founded a lifestyle brand for creative children aiming to promote the arts and artistic inclinations—Kasseem's Dream. Kasseem helped Swizz find this piece by Skyler Grey to add to The Dean Collection. Los Angeles-based street artist Grey is the youngest artist to be exhibited globally and has fans in The Game, Cassie, and Ashlee Simpson. His work features current pop icons and cartoon characters to represent Grey's own goals and ambitions.
At This Time by KAWS (2013)
Date: Jan. 2, 2014
Probably one of his biggest purchases, Swizz bought a huge wooden installation titled At This Time by the artist KAWS in January. Swizz and Keys attended the opening of the show where the piece was first shown at Mary Boone Gallery in New York. He decided to take home one of the colossal sculptures a few weeks later. Swizz has been a fan of KAWS' work for years, and he owns many pieces by the artist. This sculpture, in particular, depicts KAWS' signature Companion character shielding his face in his hands. The process of installing it has been well-documented on Swizz's Instagram, and as of October 10, the sculpture is complete.
