REMEMBERING DION E. CLARKE | A VISIONARY WHO CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE FOR BLACK ART

Remembering Dion Clarke, who passed away this Tuesday. His Harlem Fine Arts Show (HFAS) celebrated its 18th Anniversary this February, and its first iteration in the Hamptons this weekend.

The passing of Dion E. Clarke, Founder and CEO of the Harlem Fine Arts Show (HFAS), leaves an immeasurable void in the world of Black art. He used what he learned working with other Black art visionaries and turned it into the nation's largest traveling exhibition dedicated to artists of the African Diaspora, creating opportunities for hundreds of artists, galleries, and collectors while inspiring a new generation of cultural entrepreneurs. Even after his passing on July 13 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, the Harlem Fine Arts Show Summer Festival continued this weekend in the Hamptons—a testament to the resilient institution he built and the legacy he wanted to endure. (New York Amsterdam News)

For Patricia Andrews-Keenan, Founder and CEO of Pigment International, Dion's impact was both professional and personal.

"Dion believed in the power of Black art to offer what he called ‘cultural nutrition’, Andrews-Keenan said. "He learned from his mentors that Black artists deserved a stage worthy of their work, something we sought to offer with the Pigmented Black Fine Art Faire.”

Their professional relationship began in 2017, when Andrews-Keenan served as the public relations consultant for the Harlem Fine Arts Show's Chicago exhibition. As HFAS expanded, she continued to provide public relations consulting for shows in New York and Atlanta. Those experiences proved formative in the creation of Pigment International, helping shape its mission to document, celebrate, and elevate Black visual art through journalism, exhibitions, and cultural programming.

Today, Andrews-Keenan continues that relationship as a contributor to the Harlem Fine Arts Show Magazine, including the Hamptons Edition unveiled during this weekend's festival.

"It was an incredible honor to work alongside his daughter, Taylor, in producing this year's magazine," Andrews-Keenan reflected. "Even while facing unimaginable circumstances, Dion remained insistent that the publication be completed. That determination speaks to who he was. I cannot think of a more fitting tribute than seeing the show continue exactly as he envisioned. He built something that those following him can learn from and build upon."

Pigment International extends its deepest condolences to Dr. Wanda McCoy, Taylor's sisters, and the entire Clarke family. We also extend our sympathy to the Harlem Fine Arts Show team, the artists, collectors, and countless friends whose lives were enriched via Dion's vision.

His greatest masterpiece may not have been a painting on a gallery wall, but the institution he created—one that forever expanded the marketplace for Black artists and demonstrated that our culture deserves the highest levels of visibility, excellence, and investment.

Cultural nutrition – Dion thank you for serving us for almost 20 years.