Ferrari Sheppard
Sheppard in 2012
Sheppard in 2012
Background information
Birth nameFerrari Elite Sheppard
BornChicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Painter
  • writer
  • photographer
  • activist
  • record producer
Years active2009–present
Websiteferrarisheppard.com

Ferrari Elite Sheppard (born March 3, 1983) is an American contemporary visual artist, known for his vibrant, hybridized paintings which blend figurativism and abstract art.[1] Aside from being a painter, Sheppard is a writer, photographer, activist and record producer. As record producer, Sheppard is half of the alternative hip hop duo Dec 99th, along with Mos Def.[2]

Early life and education

Ferrari Sheppard was born and raised in Chicago. Sheppard attended The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.[3]

Career

After leaving The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Sheppard took a lengthy hiatus from visual art to pursue a career in journalism and music production.

Sheppard conducted interviews with artists such as M.I.A., Erykah Badu, Saul Williams, Earl Sweatshirt and Little Dragon for Stop Being Famous, a website he founded in 2009.[4]

November 2014, Sheppard appeared on Anthony Bourdain's travel show The Getaway alongside Yasiin Bey.[5] The pair traveled to Marrakesh, Morocco.[6]

In May and June 2016, Sheppard released 3 songs as producer for the alternative hip hop duo Dec 99th with Yasiin Bey – "N.A.W", "Tall Sleeves" and "Local Time".[7]

On August 1, 2016, Dec 99th released their fourth song on Tidal titled "Hymn" accompanied by a statement from the pair, "Condolences to the families of the slain. Never stop pursuing freedom," likely a reference to police killings in the United States.[8]

Sheppard and Bey released their highly anticipated, self-titled debut album, December 99th exclusively on Tidal (service) in 2016.[9]

In 2016, Sheppard returned to visual art, participating in group shows and had his first solo exhibition September 12, 2020.

Sheppard's art studio is located in Los Angeles, California.

Exhibitions

  • 2020: Black Voices Black Microcosm, CF Hill Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden[10]
  • 2020: MoAD Benefit Auction, The Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco, California [11]
  • 2020: Heroines of Innocence (solo), Wilding Cran Gallery, Los Angeles, California [12]

Social and political activism

2010–11: Haiti Earthquake

Sheppard organized a benefit concert in Chicago called Every Drop Counts for 2010 Haiti earthquake relief. The concert featured live music from Jean Grae, Dead Prez, Rhymefest, Mystic, GLC, The Cool Kids, and Kids These Days, as well as social commentary from Haki Madhubuti and Fred Hampton, Jr. The benefit was to raise funds for clean drinking water in orphanages and schools in Port-au-Prince.[13]

2012–13: Open Forum: South Africa

Sheppard was a US delegate at Open Society Foundation and OSISA's Open Forum 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa. International artists, activists, and leaders took part in The Paradox of Unequal Growth, a discussion centered on China and the International Monetary Fund's role in the development of Africa.[14][15]

2013–14: Israel-Palestine

Sheppard traveled to Israel-Palestine as part of an African-American delegation sponsored by The Carter Center. In February 2014, Sheppard appeared on HuffPost Live to discuss his travel to the region and his article about the trip.[16]

Discography

with Mos Def as Dec 99th

  • December 99th (2016)

References

  1. ↑ "Ferrari Sheppard art". Artsy. September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  2. ↑ Leight, Elias (August 2, 2016). "Yasiin Bey and Ferrari Sheppard Drop New Song "Hymn" as Dec. 99th". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Cerebral Women Art Talks Podcast". iTunes. September 11, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Introduction to Ferrari Sheppard and Stop Being Famous". RT (TV network). Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ "The Getaway: Yasiin Bey in Morocco – Esquire TV". Esquire Network. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Yasiin Gives Esquire A Bey's-Eye View Of Morocco On 'The Getaway'". Okayplayer. December 3, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  7. ↑ Reed, Ryan (June 10, 2016). "Hear Yasiin Bey's Brooding, Silky 'Local Time'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  8. ↑ Morris, Jessie (August 1, 2016). "Yasiin Bey and Ferrari Sheppard Drop New Song "Hymn" as Dec 99th". Complex. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  9. ↑ DANDRIDGE-LEMCO, BEN (December 21, 2016). "Listen To Yasiin Bey And Ferrari Sheppard's December 99th Album". The Fader. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Black Voices Black Microcosm | CF Hill Gallery". Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  11. ↑ "MoAD Benefit Auction | The Museum of the African Diaspora". Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Heroines of Innocence | Wilding Cran Gallery". Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Chicago: Every Drop Counts Benefit Concert for Haiti Relief". URB. Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Has democracy brought blind hope to Africa?". This Is Africa. Archived from the original on November 23, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  15. ↑ "The Paradox of Unequal Growth". OSISA. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Israel Palestine's Non-Conflict". HuffPost Live. February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
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