Founder and CEO, George Wells', background in the contemporary art community is part of the DNA of the Wells Group of New York. Guided by a genuine appreciation for creativity and a recognition of the underrepresentation of black professionals in the art industry, Wells has strategically steered the company towards becoming a stalwart supporter of inclusivity. 

 

In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, Wells pledged a $1M in art to Morehouse College in support of the Making Men of Consequence campaign. A campaign to grow our international footprint, recruit new faculty, and modernize the College's infrastructure, including a $50M campaign to revitalize the MLK Chapel which will including an 8,000 sqft exhibition space for both contemporary art and the King Collection. George partnered with college to raise $1.5M in a campaign in Fall 2023. If you would like to contribute to the cause you can do so here. 

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The Wells Group actively seeks out partnerships, collaborations, and sponsorships that empower and amplify the voices of black artists, curators, and other professionals in the contemporary art scene. In celebration of Art Basel, Wells Group hosted a dinner for members of the Spelman and Morehouse College (SPELHOUSE) community working in contemporary art to come together and have a conversation surrounding diversity in the art world.

 

The idea for the dinner came to Wells on a Saturday gallery stroll to the Lower East Side to check out Qualeasha Wood’s show at the Kendra Jayne Patrick Gallery. He realized there were several black art world professionals that he wanted to make sure he had quality time with while at Art Basel Miami Beach this year. From there Wells decided to invite my good friend and classmate Lauren Copeland N’namdi, co-head of  N’Namdi Gallery Miami an affiliate of N'Namdi Contemporary played a historic role in shaping many of the most visible art canon names, including Ed Clark.

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Lauren N'Namdi, a graduate of Spelman and the Pratt Institute and a gallerist at N'Namdi Gallery Miami. Current Exhibition: Tylonn J. Sawyer’s “America has a Problem” addresses what it means to be a black queer American in a time where the rights are threatened by Supreme Court decisions. 

 

Larry Ossei-Mensah, Co-Founder of ART NOIR, is an independent curator and cultural critic within the contemporary art space. Ossei-Mensah was the Guest curator for Amoako Boafo's: Soul of Black Folks at the Denver Art Museum.

 

Carla Camacho, a partner at Lehmann Maupin which represents a wide swath of diverse artists; including black artists Nari Ward, McArthur Binion, Nicholas Hlobo, Dominic Chambers, ArcManaro Niles, Calida Rawls and Billie Zhangewa. 

 

Kendra Jayne, a graduate of Spelman College and Georgetown Law Center, is a pioneering art dealer showcasing up-and-coming underrepresented artists. Her gallery recently closed Qualeasha Wood’s Manic Pixie Magical Negro.