Baltimore's Creative Fusion: Shan Wallace's Iconic Affair with New Balance and Hype Beast
Today, I had the pleasure of encountering Shan Wallace at NoMüNoMü, nestled at 709 Howard Street in Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The affair, a collaborative endeavor between Hype Beast and New Balance, bore the captivating title "Sounds of An Icon," serving as a ceremonious homage to Baltimore's rich heritage and the timeless New Balance 990s.
Shan Wallace standing in front of her works being photographed by her sister and friend. (Photo by: Dondre Scott)
The 990, an iconic streetwear staple, has held sway over major East Coast cities since its inception. Last summer, New Balance introduced its Sounds of an Icon series, journeying through Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Baltimore to delve into the rich history of this style. Now, the brand is amplifying these endeavors by revisiting these hubs of cultural significance. This time, New Balance ventures to Baltimore for a photography and arts workshop, accompanied by a gallery experience featuring the work of local artist Shan Wallace.
The event unfurled as an extraordinary tapestry of collaborative creativity, featuring a communal table where attendees crafted their own narratives using collage as their expressive medium. Additionally, a cartographic element allowed participants to tag their neighborhoods and articulate, in their own words, the significance of Baltimore in their lives. The exhibition exuded palpable warmth, adorned by groups of friends rallying in support of Shan Wallace's remarkable achievements.
Born in 1991, Shan Wallace emerges as a nomadic luminary, an interdisciplinary artist, archivist, and image-maker hailing proudly from Baltimore, MD. Wallace deftly employs diverse mediums, including photography, film, and collage, along with in situ installations, to intricately weave narratives and envision novel stories.
Her artistic oeuvre extends to both public and private collections throughout the United States. Internationally recognized, Wallace's works have graced prestigious galleries and museums, including The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Annenberg Space For Photography in Los Angeles, CA, Elsewhere Museum in Greensboro, NC, the New Gallery of Modern Art in Charlotte, NC, the Mariano Arts Center in Havana, Cuba, and Maryland's esteemed institutions such as the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, The Contemporary, and the Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center.
Residing and creating across the interstices of Brooklyn, New York, and Baltimore, MD, Shan's artistic endeavors epitomize a fusion of spatial influences, culminating in a rich tapestry of creative expression that resonates deeply with audiences worldwide.