Ep.136 features Isimeme "Easy" Otabor. Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Easy is a multi-hyphenate creative + entrepreneur. A self-taught art collector turned gallery owner, Easy has taken an innovative approach to his curatorial practice in the fashion and art space. Easy rose through the ranks at local Chicago and global cultural hub; RSVP Gallery, a concept and experiential retail space founded by Virgil Abloh + Don Crawley in the late 2000s. He quickly became operator + buyer of the location and was known as the go-to resource for his knowledge in the music, art, fashion + retail spaces. Otabor is the founder of the apparel brand Infinite Archives, known for its unique mix of cultural history and storytelling. The brand chronicles a different year and era each calendar year, resulting in a new take and an educative approach to applying the past to the new zeitgeist. Today, Easy is focused on his expanding vision for the future of the art space; acting as collector, dealer, enthusiast and in demand curator for brands at the intersection of art, music + fashion. In 2019, he founded Anthony Gallery, his contemporary art gallery focused on emerging and established artists from around the world. “ Photo credit: Ian Vecchiotti Anthony Gallery https://www.anthony.gallery/what-it-could-be/ Re-Build Foundation https://www.rebuild-foundation.org/projects-6 Mosaiko Magazine https://www.mosaikomagazine.com/blog/easy-otabor-and-the-cultural-impact-of-anthony-gallery Henry Swanson http://www.henryswansonart.com/new-events-2 Nike https://www.nike.com/launch/t/unite-easy-otabor 7-eleven https://corp.7-eleven.com/corp-press-releases/drop-it-like-it-s-haute-7-and-8209-eleven-releases-limited-edition-apparel-collection-with-overtime-and-easy-otabor Artnet https://news.artnet.com/art-world/valuations-easy-otabor-2213292 Chicago Gallery News https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/news/2022/1/world-renown-artist-theaster-gates-and-celebrated-gallerist-easy-otabor-team-up-to-showcase-black-artists-yearlong USAArtnews https://usaartnews.com/news/valuations-gallerist-and-entrepreneur-easy-otabor-on-his-wardrobe-the-wickedly-smart-art-of-david-leggett-and-other-things-he-holds-dear i-D https://i-d.vice.com/en/article/wxnqn5/theaster-gates-easy-otabor-interview Artnews https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/easy-otabor-shaping-art-2021-1234577352/ Hypebeast https://hypebeast.com/tags/easy-otabor GOAT https://www.goat.com/editorial/easy-otabor

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