Dandy Lion: Articulating a Re(de)fined Black Masculine Identity

Dandy Lion: (Re)Articulating A Black Masculine Identity is on view at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, California now through September 18, 2016. Shantrelle P. Lewis was interviewed for MoAD TV to discuss the origins of Black dandyism and the evolution of The Dandy Lion Project.

The Dandy Lion Project had its very first international Street Style Portrait session thanks to London based photographer Sara Shamsavari. The event was part of London’s Annual African Street Style Festival. Sara has been shooting British dapper dons for the past year for our upcoming exhibition at MoCP in Chicago. Shout out to Sara for organizing the shoot and James Makai for this great video. Special thanks to all of the gentlemen who lent their energy, voices and threads. 

As the Dandy Lion exhibition has evolved, so has its purpose. This second iteration of the concept video was directed, shot and edited by Bouba Dola in The Netherlands circa 2011.

Dandy Lion’s second iteration took place at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, July through August 2011.

Dandy Lion Photo Booth at Harlem Pop. All Images Photographed by: Delphine Fawundu-Buford. November 2011.

Curatorial Residency and abbreviated installation of Dandy Lion at Open Ateliers Zuidoost in the Bijlmer, Amsterdam’s Southeast Neighborhood. September 2011.

A visitor of the Dandy Lion exhibit at MoCADA was so inspired by his experience that he created a video tour of the installation. Thanks Michael Anthony!

An explanation of the original inspiration behind The Dandy Lion Project. Shot by Hanif Abdur-Rahim. November 2010.

I chaired a panel entitled “Show Up to Show Out: The Rise of Global Black Dandyism” featuring presentations by Allison Janae Hamilton, Dr. Monica Miller, Dr. Michael McMillan and myself. The panel was moderated by Dr. Michelle Joan Wilkinson.