May 13, 2024: Getty Prize recipient Mark Bradford at Getty Prize dinner at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, Calif. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
THE GETTY FOUNDATION recently celebrated Los Angeles artist Mark Bradford and the many ways the arts can transform lives. Bradford received the 2024 Getty Prize, an honor that gave him the opportunity to direct a $500,000 grant to a nonprofit of his choice. He selected the Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN). The organization serves justice system-impacted young people in Los Angeles County, providing arts education and training.
In Los Angeles, the Getty hosted the Getty Prize dinner on May 13. The event was held in the Getty Center courtyard, which was specially designed for the occasion to pay homage to Bradford’s practice. Composed of dense layers of paper, his abstract paintings explore social and political structures and the adverse ways they impact vulnerable communities. Images of the complex works were projected onto the building facades surrounding the outdoor space where guests gathered and served as a backdrop for the stage.
About 260 guests attended, including artists Betye Saar, Alison Saar, Charles Gaines, Lauren Halsey, Doug Aitken, Karon Davis, Catherine Opie, and Mickalene Thomas; curators LeRonn P. Brooks of the Getty Research Institute, Naima J. Keith of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and Erin Christovale of the Hammer Museum; philanthropists Tina Knowles and Virginia Joy Simmons; staff, members, and youth associated with AHJN; and a host of other artists, curators, museum officials, collectors, and trustees.
The event featured cocktails, remarks, dinner, music, and a performance by Rhythm Arts Alliance, a member of AHJN. Board Chair Robert W. Lovelace and Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, addressed guests. Elizabeth Alexander, president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, paid tribute to Bradford. After Fleming presented Bradford with the Getty Prize, a video introduced the work of AHJN, and then Bradford honored AHJN Executive Director Elida Ledesma and Board Chair Leticia Rhi Buckley with their Getty Prize award.
From left, Getty Prize 2024 Honorees Leticia Rhi Buckley, board chair, Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN); Elida Ledesma, executive director, Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN); and artist Mark Bradford. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
Established as the Getty Medal in 2013, the annual prize originally focused on achievements in the areas of art, research, conservation, and philanthropy, the foundational interests of the J. Paul Getty Trust. The medal was generally bestowed upon two to three recipients each year. In December, the award was re-introduced as the Getty Prize with an individual recipient, a leader “whose work expands human understanding and appreciation of arts and culture,” who in turn is able to bring attention to and help fund the work of a nonprofit of their choosing.
Bradford’s selection of AHJN is charting a new course for the prize and a new level of community impact. AHJN partners with organizations such as Street Poets, Inc., No Easy Props, Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore, Homeboy Art Academy, ArtworxLA, and Armory Center for the Arts, supporting programs spanning visual art, music, dance, theater, creative writing, and poetry.
“AHJN uses the arts as a vehicle to help heal young people experiencing incarceration but also to advocate for systems change. We are a network now of over 20 organizations. Collectively we’re serving close to 2,000 young people per year,” Elida Ledesma, executive director of AJHN, said in the video.
“I think it’s very validating to have somebody like Mark see the work and for it to speak to him in this way for him to choose us. I think everybody on the team, our members community felt like it’s reaffirming to know that this work matters and people are paying attention. So that meant a lot to us.” CT
FIND MORE about the Arts for Healing and Justice Network on its website
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2024 Getty Prize recipient Mark Bradford directed a $500,000 grant award to the Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN). The organization serves Los Angeles County young people experiencing incarceration, providing arts education and training. AHJN staff, members, and supporters explain AHJN’s work and impact. | Video by The Getty
From left, Robert W. Lovelace, board chair, J. Paul Getty Trust; and honoree Elida Ledesma, executive director, Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN). | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
“AHJN uses the arts as a vehicle to help heal young people experiencing incarceration but also to advocate for systems change. We are a network now of over 20 organizations. Collectively we’re serving close to 2,000 young people per year.”
— Elida Ledesma, Executive Director, Arts for Healing and Justice Network
From left, Tina Knowles; Honoree Mark Bradford; and Elizabeth Alexander, president, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, LeRonn P. Brooks, curator for Modern and Contemporary Collections, Getty Research Institute; Sandra Jackson-Dumont, director and CEO, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art; artist Karon Davis; and independent curator Helen Molesworth. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Artist Lauren Halsey and Nicolas Berggruen. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Artists Betye Saar and Alison Saar. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Honoree Mark Bradford, artist Charles Gaines, and Roxana Landaverde. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Honoree Mark Bradford and artist Catherine Opie. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Kosi Williams, Kwesi Williams and Jahanna Blunt of Rhythm Arts Alliance, a member of the Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN), perform onstage during Getty Prize 2024 dinner at the Getty Center on May 13, 2024, in Los Angeles, Calif. | Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Guests attend Getty Prize 2024 dinner at Getty Center on May 13, 2024, in Los Angeles, Calif. | Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
Robert W. Lovelace, board chair, J. Paul Getty Trust, speaks onstage during Getty Prize 2024 dinner at Getty Center on May 13, 2024, in Los Angeles, Calif. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
Elizabeth Alexander, president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, introduces artist Mark Bradford at Getty Prize 2024 dinner. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
Honoree Mark Bradford makes remarks during Getty Prize 2024 dinner. Bradford is a co-founder of Art + Practice in Leimert Park, a museum-curated exhibition space and nonprofit that supports local transition-age foster youth and children displaced across the globe. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
Honoree Mark Bradford celebrates receiving 2024 Getty Prize. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO, J. Paul Getty Trust, and honorees Mark Bradford, and Elida Ledesma, executive director of Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN), gather onstage during Getty Prize 2024 dinner. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
The Getty Prize 2024 dinner was held in the Getty Center courtyard on May 13, 2024, in Los Angeles, Calif. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
Detail of table design where Getty Prize 2024 dinner guests dined al fresco in the Getty Center courtyard. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Rachel Brashier and Leticia Rhi Buckley, board chair, Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN). | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Collector and philanthropist Virginia Joy Simmons, and artist Betye Saar. | Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
Johanna Burton, director MOCA Los Angeles, and Edythe Broad, co-founder of The Broad museum in Los Angeles, Calif. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Ka’Lee Matthews, youth advocate, Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN), and Daniel Bisuano. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Honoree Mark Bradford and artist Betye Saar. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Hammer Museum Curator Erin Christovale and artist Charles Gaines. | Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, artist Kohshin Finley; Naima Keith, vice president of education and public programs, Los Angeles County Museum of Art; independent curator Helen Molesworth; and artists Mickalene Thomas and Karon Davis. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Tina Knowles and artist Mickalene Thomas. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Artist Xaviera Simmons, board treasurer, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara; and Frederick Janka, board president, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Honoree Mark Bradford and artist Umar Rashid. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
Fromo left, Ron Finley, urban gardener and founder of The Ron Finley Project; collector and philanthropist Virginia Joy Simmons; and artist Forrest Kirk. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Collector and philanthropist Beth DeWoody and artist/photographer Firooz Zahedi. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Artists Shantell Martin and Forrest Kirk. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
Artwork by honoree Mark Bradford projected onto the facade of the Getty Center during Getty Prize 2024 dinner on May 13, 2024, in Los Angeles, Calif. | Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
Guests attend Getty Prize 2024 dinner at the Getty Center on May 13, 2024, in Los Angeles, Calif. | Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Elida Ledesma and Leticia Rhi Buckley, executive director and board chair, respectively, Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN). | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Honoree Mark Bradford and Allan DiCastro, co-founders of Art + Practice. | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
From left, Robert W. Lovelace, board chair, J. Paul Getty Trust; Honoree Mark Bradford; Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO, J. Paul Getty Trust; and Elida Ledesma, executive director, Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN). | Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The J. Paul Getty Trust
