Swizz Beatz Reveals His Favorite Piece Of Art Found When Traveling

Swizz Beatz is known for being an avid art collector. So, it’s no surprise that the famous producer would be at Miami Art Week. He teamed up with the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card portfolio to host THE ICONIC PARTY at The W South Beach Hotel on December 4 to once again spotlight emerging female creatives. As part of the party, he commissioned Brooklyn-based artist Tanda Francis to create and unveil new artwork that addresses diasporic African people who are too often underrepresented in public art. I was able to chat with Swizz as part of this partnership to find out what he loves about Miami Art Week, the event he hosted, and his favorite piece of art he found when traveling. 

Why is supporting female artists so important to you?

 “In 2019, when I started working with American Express and Marriott Bonvoy to spotlight women in art, only 2% of global art auction spending was for female artist work. This year there was a small increase, but it is still less than 4% of art auction sales, which lets us know there is still a lot of work to do to address the underrepresentation of women in art.

The COVID pandemic had a significant impact on the arts, with BIPOC artists seeing high rates of unemployment and loss in income. However, less people were traveling, and travel helped people discover art, so many artists felt the impact of that. This is why supporting women artists is more important than ever.”

What do you love about Miami Art Week?

 “The excitement around Miami Art Week always feels good! It’s great seeing everyone together celebrating each other. I get to catch up with different artists I may not get to see regularly, see what they have been working on, and meet/discover new artists.

 I’m glad Miami Art Week is returning after not being able to take place last year because of the pandemic. This year, I’m excited to have The Dean Collection, the art collection and cultural platform my wife and I founded to support living artists, partnered with American Express and Marriott Bonvoy. As a result, we were able to once again shine a light on an incredible emerging female artist, Tanda Francis, at THE ICONIC PARTY during Miami Art Week at The W South Beach Hotel on December 4.”

How do you hope this event brings attention to your mission? 

“In a time where women in art need more support than ever, I’m hoping our event will motivate people to support female artists. We have commissioned Brooklyn-based artist Tanda Francis to create and unveil new artwork during the event, and I hope her unique point of view inspires people. Tanda’s work addresses diasporic African people who are too often underrepresented in public art. American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card Members also received a limited-edition Tanda Francis print to take home with them.”

You get to travel a lot, and you love art. How have your travels informed your choice of art?

“Not only am I passionate about art and an avid art collector, but I’m also very passionate about travel. To me, the two are synonymous. When I travel to connect with local artists and step into their worlds, I make it a point. I love to experience the local culture and take in its aesthetic. Travel is one of the best ways to discover new artists and talent that you wouldn’t have known about otherwise.”

Are there any favorite pieces you picked up while traveling?

“I most recently added a Qualeasha Wood (from the Kendra Jayne Patrick gallery) to the collection. I connected with it immediately, and I’m excited to collect more of her work.”

What’s the ultimate art destination? 

“That’s a tough one because I’ve been inspired to create in many places and have seen amazing work in many cities as well. So I think it really depends on your mood and what you’re looking for at the moment.”