American Duet: Jazz & Abstract Art -Curated from the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art, the exhibition explores the relationship between jazz music and abstract art, comprised of over 61 works by 34 modern and contemporary artists who showcase the convergence of these genres through a medley of visual mediums.

American Duet emphasises the shared creative spirit of jazz and abstract art, highlighting their similar expressive, vibrant and improvisational qualities. Jazz as a musical genre, and abstract art as an artistic movement, simultaneously emerged to prominence throughout the 20th century with African American artists and musicians at the forefront. Synchronically intertwined, these experimental frameworks developed a dialogue between the expressive visual language of the abstract artist and the complex rhythmic compositions of the jazz musician. This new creative exchange integrated jazz into American artistic culture, inspiring artists to translate sound to colour, note to line and silence to void.

Guests are welcomed into American Duet by a color-field of amorphous shapes in hues of purples, greens, blues and yellows, inspired by Herbert Gentry’s Carnival(1983). This colourful backdrop offers a striking photo opportunity, paired with a neon-lit moment inside the exhibition entryway. To the left, guests can engage in a collaborative experience that invites them to interpret sound as colour, selecting hues that correspond to various musical samples. To the right, they can enjoy a curated playlist that complements the exhibition. This fourth iteration of Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art’s gateway installation celebrates the innovative spirit of the musicians and artists who shaped jazz and abstract art by experimenting, dissecting and exploring the boundaries of their genres.

American Duet: Jazz & Abstract Artfeatures such artists as Al Johnson, Richard Mayhew, Beauford Delaney, John Dowell, Mavis Pusey, Mickalene Thomas, Sam Gilliam, Sam Middleton, Xenobia Bailey, and more.

American Duet is on display daily at Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art from November 15, 2024, through June 1, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., daily. Last admissions are sold 30 minutes prior to closing time. Daily docent-led tours will be held at 11 a.m. for an additional fee.