AJF joined South Africa–based artist Geraldine Fenn, inaugural recipient of AJF’s Solo Exhibition Award, for a look back at the research, experimentation, travel, collaboration, and making that culminated in her solo exhibition, Geraldine Fenn: Dispatch from the Colonies, at Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h, in Montreal. Fenn takes us inside the development of the exhibition, which explored the power dynamics of European colonization in Africa through historical portrait jewelry, trade beads, micromosaic, and an expanded collaboration with Zimbabwean beading collective Marigold. See highlights from the completed exhibition and hear how the award created opportunities to research, learn new techniques, collaborate, and make work on a scale that might otherwise not have been possible. The conversation also marks the opening of the next AJF Solo Exhibition Award application cycle. Artists considering applying are especially encouraged to watch to hear firsthand what the award can make possible—and begin imagining what they might do with the opportunity.
With special guests gallerist Noel Guyomarc’h; grant founder Linda Peshkin; and Marta Costa Reis, the chair of AJF’s Awards and Grants committee.
Links given during the event
• Geraldine’s website
• Geraldine’s Instagram: @geraldinefenn
• Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h’s website
• Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h’s Instagram: @galerienoelguyomarch
• Find 2027 Linda Peshkin Solo Award application and info here. Deadline to apply: November 15, 2026
• Guidelines are also on AJF’s website, here
• The artist Geraldine mentions is Joni Brenner
• Marigold Collective’s website
• The person who taught Geraldine micromosaic was Rebecca Di Filippo. Her website is here. Her Instagram: @RebeccaDEnamel
We also have videos of mini-interviews with Geraldine, Noel, and Linda here. They were filmed around the time of the exhibition’s opening
