A Look Inside the Book Launch for Awol Erizku’s Long-Awaited First Monograph

On Tuesday, June 27, at the Gucci Wooster Bookstore in SoHo, Aperture and Gucci celebrated the launch of Mystic Parallax, the long-awaited first major monograph dedicated to artist Awol Erizku’s expansive vision.

The intimate evening offered lively conversation and celebratory cocktails, including an Ethiopian honey wine as a tribute to Erizku’s heritage. Guests had the opportunity to have their copy of Mystic Parallax signed by the artist, who graciously autographed books throughout the evening.

Ashley James, Awol Erizku, Antwaun Sargent

Published by Aperture, Mystic Parallax showcases over ten years of Erizku’s multivalent practice that critically engages art history, personal experience, and Pan-African thought and symbolism. Working across photography, film, video, painting, and installation, his work references and re-imagines African American and African visual culture, from hip-hop vernacular to Nefertiti, while nodding to traditions of spirituality and Surrealism.

Joining to toast Awol Erizku and Aperture were many of the project’s contributors and supporters, including curator and book contributor Antwaun Sargent, curator Ashley James, Aperture Executive Director Sarah Meister, Aperture Editor Michael Famighetti, Aperture Trustees Lyle Ashton Harris, Deb Willis, and Cathy Caplan, as well as Adam Eli, ASAP Ferg, Chase Hall, Hank Willis Thomas, Isolde Brielmaier, Jane Holzer, Kathleen Lynch, Kathy Paciello, Lisa Sutcliffe, Quil Lemons, Rachel Tashjian, Ryan McGinley, Whitney Mallett, Willa Bennett, and many more.

Awol Erizku Hank Willis Thomas, Sanford Biggers, Awol Erizku, Lyle Ashton Harris Awol Erizku, ASAP Ferg Book Launch in partnership with Gucci Janine Cirincione, Awol Erizku, Cecile Panzieri, Jeffrey Grove Michael Famighetti, Awol Erizku Cathy Kaplan, Awol Erizku Sarah Meister, Darla Vaughn Ghetto Gastro, Quil Lemons Steven Chaiken, Whitney Mallett Feruz Erizku, Awol Erizku Lovia Gyarkye, Brendan Embser, Lesley Martin, Nicole Acheampong Gabriella Karefa-Johnson Terry Ferguson, ASAP Ferg Lauren Kelly, ASAP Ferg, Elphin Murren, Adrian PhillipsCameron Welch, Chase Hall, Ashley James, Antwaun Sargent, Antoine Gregory, Awol Erizku
All photographs by Ben Rosser for BFA.com, June 27, 2023

Related Items

Awol Erizku: Mystic Parallax

Shop Now[image error]

Aperture 223

Shop Now[image error]

Book launch made possible by Gucci.

This project was made possible, in part, with generous support from the Momentary and the Aperture Artist Book Committee, including Founding Members Peter Barbur and Tim Doody, Jeff Gutterman and Russet Lederman, and Frank Arisman, Joe Baio and Anne Griffin, Frédérique Destribats, Michael Hoeh, Loring and Diana Knoblauch, Andrew and Marina Lewin, David Solo, and Alice Sachs Zimet. Special thanks to Sean Kelly Gallery and Ben Brown Fine Arts.