Grit and glamour: Swizz Beatz and Alicia KeysAFP/Getty ImagesUS rapper Swizz Beatz is bringing his No Commission street art fair to London — and says it will supply “grit” and “glamour” to the capital’s art scene.
The husband of singer Alicia Keys is taking over The Arches in Ewer Street for three days for the show which follows fairs in New York and Miami.
The project, supported by drinks firm Bacardi, is run on a no-commission basis with the artists keeping all the money they make and given their exhibition space free of charge. Entrance is free but tickets must be applied for.
The star said the idea started when he began to build up a private “museum” for his children and saw the response he got when he featured artists on his Instagram account.
He said: “I found out I was helping these artists so much by putting them on my social media ... they write to me saying ‘thank you, my show just sold out after you talked about it’.” Beatz said the fair, which will also feature DJ sets and live music, was his chance to “celebrate” art.
He added: “I think people shouldn’t have to pay to see art. The UK can use something that is different.”
The Dean Collection X BACARDÍ present No Commission: London 8-10 December at The Arches in Southwark, London. nocommission.BACARDI.com
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