Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion was among the goals of MGM Resorts International’s recent expansion of its fine art collection in Las Vegas.
The company has acquired works by artists of color, women, and the LGBTQIA+ community for display at its Strip resorts. Themes included crossing cultural barriers; perspectives on the experiences of black Americans and gay black people; and the challenges people face because of their race, gender and sexual orientation.
Works of art by Rashid Johnson, Sanford Biggers, Derrick Adams, Ghada Amer, Jonathan Lyndon Chase, Tomas Esson and Svenja Deininger are featured in public areas for patrons to view at no additional charge.
“Each of these treasured works is an important and permanent addition to the overall vision of the MGM Resorts Art Collection,” said Tarissa Tiberti, Executive Director of MGM Resorts Art & Culture.
Artists and their creations
Johnson, a leading contemporary artist, merges photography, sculpture, and painting to promote conversation about race and class. One of his three-dimensional murals, ‘Cosmic Slop Stick and Move’ at Aria’s boardwalk, was perhaps the hardest to get,” Tiberti said.
“Due to the high demand, we had to show that we had the merit of being able to present his works within our properties,” she said.
A smaller scale version of Sanford Biggers’ bronze “Oracle” has been placed near the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. Photo credit: MGM Resorts International
A smaller version of Biggers’ famous 25-foot-tall, 7.6-ton “Oracle,” which was exhibited at New York’s Rockefeller Center last summer, has been installed just outside the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. The bronze sculpture is a seated body reminiscent of the Temple of Zeus, with a head inspired by the masks and sculptures of African cultures.
“Biggers’ work is a complex interplay of narratives that reflect current social, political and economic events,” Tiberti said.
Adams, who explores the connection between Black American experiences and American iconography, art history, urban environments and consumerism, is completing a work from his “Floater” series that will be installed at the entrance to the Park MGM swimming pool.
Two works by Amer, known for depicting women through thread, are featured in the Bellagio’s spa and salon.
“At first glance, Amer’s works are colorful and dynamic,” Tiberti said. “Upon further reflection, viewers will discover a complex portrayal of femininity outside of the norms shaped by masculinity. Both pieces of ‘The Women I Know Part II’ feature embroidered and painted portraits of women Amer knows with phrases and quotes concerning feminist and social issues.”
“Quimera” by Tomas Esson hangs just outside the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Photo credit: MGM Resorts International
Chase, whose portraits often focus on the nuances of queer black life, is depicted in “The Cook Out” (acrylic paint, oil paint, spray paint, oil stick, marker and graphite on canvas) , at Park MGM, next to the resort. lobby.
Two works by Esson, who often explore the cultural challenges of the 1980s, are in the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and Bellagio’s VIP Lobby. An untitled painting by Deininger is on display in Aria’s Carbone restaurant.
“Adding these talented artists to our portfolio reflects MGM Resorts’ commitment to championing inclusion and ensuring the collection more closely reflects our diverse communities,” Tiberti said.