A GIFT OF HISTORY: African Art Pop-Up Exhibit at Uplifting Mansion

Focusing on the empowerment of Black and Brown entrepreneurs, founders Deanna Singh and Justin Ponder restored a 1920s Milwaukee mansion and created a hub with the BIPOC community in mind. 

The Uplifting Mansion has four floors that include a 2000+ sq. ft. residence, work stations and event spaces with hand-picked furniture. It is also listed as a premier destination with Visit Milwaukee.

“Our mansion’s awesome interior was designed by BC Modern, the top mid-century modern design crew in Milwaukee. This local, award-winning company has given our place a cool vintage vibe mixed with modern style,” Singh explained.

Keeping in line with their mission to uplift BIPOC communities, Singh held a one-day open house at Uplifting Mansion, on October 17, inviting the public to tour the space and view a new African art exhibit curated by Kenge Adams.

“Art has the power to inspire, challenge, and connect us. That’s why I’m especially excited about Nkenge’s Gallery, a first-time exhibition featured at our Uplifting Mansion open house,” Singh said. 

Artificial Intelligence is used to complete the sculptures and show what the entire piece would have looked like in its original time. On its website, The Gallery is “a sanctuary where the vibrancy of African Art meets the boundless possibilities of modern technology”. 

“When I was doing my research, initially people only celebrated the head or the crown of a mask and not the rest of it and I really wanted people to know that there was more than a mask and there is more to us. To me [the AI] symbolizes a way to recreate that and overcoming the idea of erasure and erasing history and importance,” Adams proclaimed.

About five years ago, Adams left her corporate job in IT Project Management to start her own business doing community service and program development. Her consulting firm worked with organizations and nonprofits to put together youth summits all over the country tailored to encouraging the next generation to get involved in fields that help close equity gaps.

Along this journey she partnered with St. Augustine Preparatory Academy, who originally found the African pieces, and pivoted her work to showcase the artifacts in the community after seeing the connection to her own ancestry. 

“I found out that I have a lot of DNA from Nigeria, Senegal, different parts of West Africa and I was gifted this art that coincided with a lot of those areas. I felt a strong connection to the art, the beauty, the culture, the history of the pieces,” said Adams.

“This showcase of African art and culture, enhanced by innovative AI technology, is more than just a visual treat,” Singh said. “It’s a testament to the rich diversity of our community and the endless possibilities when we blend tradition with innovation.”

As an author and social justice leader, Singh’s passion for change shines through her and her husband’s diversity, equity and inclusion work. 

“I’m dedicated to finding solutions to complex social challenges. That’s why I founded Flying Elephant, a holding company for five unique social ventures all with a mission to shift power to marginalized communities,” she said. 

For more information on booking space in Uplifting Mansion visit their website.

Adams plans to continue hosting more public pop-up events for the gallery. To learn more about Nkenge’s Gallery, visit their website.

Pieces from Nkenge’s Gallery will be on display at ‘The Retreat‘ on Nov. 1 (3-7pm) and Nov. 2 (10-8pm). It’s hosted by the Sherman Phoenix Foundation at The Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel (375 S. Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005).