Inspired by The North Face x Gucci collection, A Vibe Called Tech and Stance present “Pioneers of the Past,” a project exploring the nuances of the Black image, calling into question the fluid shifts of past and present.

Founded by Charlene Prempeh, A Vibe Called Tech is a creative agency and initiative exploring and fostering the intersections of Black creativity, culture, and innovation. With Creative Director Lewis Gilbert, four pioneers of Black history and creative production are brought together for the project unveiled by the Stance podcast—a series of self-portraits and conversations by the four young, international artists, curating the representation of the Black image.

“The collaboration between The North Face and Gucci—two brands with heritage, exploration and adventure in their DNA—is a great springboard for celebrating the individuals using their creative practice to spotlight Black figures from history who are often erased from storytelling,” said Prempeh. “As an agency, we’re always excited to share new, diverse narratives and work with brands who show commitment to amplifying Black voices and here we’ve been able to do both.”

The North Face x Gucci collaboration evokes a celebration of the spirit and an exploration of the self, seen in the featured self-portraits as conveyors of individuality. Each self-portrait is reinterpreted by Jazz Grant, British collage artist, whose work largely focuses on and champions the Black community. Each image in the project is a portrayal of the trailblazing individual, all on unique and independent paths to challenge and redress the representation of Blackness in art, adding nuance in their depictions.

Featured in the project is Alayo Akinkugbe, founder of the popular curatorial Instagram account @ablackhistoryofart; Verona-born Italian Ghanian visual researcher and artist Theophilus Imani; Renata Cherlise of @blackarchives.co; and Osei Bonsu, British-Ghanaian curator, critic and art historian. 

“The project gives a wide-reaching platform to the voices of Black creatives and curators, facilitating a celebration of the Black image, from a Black perspective,” said Akinkugbe. “Even with the restrictions of these times, this project has been a wonderfully collaborative process in which the work of each person involved has supported that of another.”

Cherlise added: “There’s still a lot to uncover through mining the past. A lot to learn about the various ways the Black experience has been documented and consumed throughout the years. Perhaps, maybe, even too much for one to explore during their lifetime. I gravitated towards all of these new ideas of what working through the past could represent and my role within it.”

The Stance Podcast has also been in conversation with the curators and archivists, taking listeners into a discussion about celebration and discovery. Each conversation the podcast hosts is inspired by The North Face x Gucci collection, drawing exploration of the fluctuations of the Black image over time as Black artists redefine the art world and share images and meanings. 

“Each contributor has helped to educate and inspire countless amounts of people with their work, whilst shining a light on those often overlooked or purposefully hidden from mainstream media,” said Lewis Gilbert, Creative Director at A Vibe Called Tech. “Alayo, Osei, Renata and Theo each use their platforms to bring to life the stories of so many and we are thrilled they have agreed to take part.”