Theaster Gates and David Adjaye in Conversation

Socially conscious artist and urbanist Theaster Gates works in sculpture, installation, performance, and urban interventions to address poverty and racism in the United States. Breaking down the divide between art and life, his multidisciplinary practice has transformed abandoned buildings into cultural spaces and rejuvenated communities. Gates critically engages numerous publics, analyzing industrial and cultural exploitation through his working method of “critique through collaboration.” David Adjaye similarly explores the intersection of identity, community, and place in his global architectural practice. Born in Tanzania to Ghanaian parents, Adjaye’s focuses on the environmental context of his buildings, addressing local concerns and conditions with a deep understanding of history. Exemplified by his design for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, Adjaye’s buildings foster links among people while acknowledging the diversity of urban identities.