In the Frame: Malcolm Jenkins

What are you working on currently?

Malcolm Jenkins: Right now, I spend a lot of my time writing. I’ve been posting on my Substack — doing small essays, personal submissions from memories, experiences and really trying to tie it all together and tell my own story. Whether it’s talking about business or my creative spaces, and merging those worlds, through spending most of my time writing.

What ritual or routine keeps you going?

MJ: I wake up at 5am most mornings. I try to start my day with meditation as that usually keeps me grounded. I’m bouncing around traveling often, I’ll have deadlines and things I'm trying to manage so starting my day with 15 minutes of meditation allows me to set my priorities, anticipate what’s going to come and feel a lot more like myself throughout the day.

What work of art made you see things differently?

MJ: The Sugar Shack by Ernie Barnes. I grew up with that image and maybe didn’t understand the significance of it at first. But once I learned that Barnes was a former football player who played in the NFL, it meant so much more to me when I had to transition out [of the NFL]. I was trying to think about what can I do next? He's an example of someone who is more known for what he did outside of sports, even though he made it to the highest level. Being able to reinvent himself. That’s really inspired a lot of what I’ve been doing in the art space and my own writing. His work has changed my appreciation for art.

Which artist or designer do you wish you knew more about?

MJ: Jack Whitten. I just saw his recent exhibition and it was phenomenal. Talk about reinvention— to be abstract yourself as an abstract artist is next level. His experiments with paint, his ability to invent creative tools and new ways of doing things, it takes your appreciation to another level because you know what goes into the process. As an athlete it’s something I appreciate — the process. What goes into it is what makes it special.

What are you reading currently?

MJ: I just finished Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People by Imani Perry and she takes us through essentially, the history of Black folks, via the color blue. It's an exploration of folklore, history, material, song, even commerce. It was really fun and it moves really well. I didn't understand our relationship with the color blue until I read this.

What artists or designers are you excited about right now?

MJ: Lauren Halsey is the one I’m really excited about, I finally got her in my collection. I was so inspired by her installation at The Met. I believe those types of work need to be seen. Going back to her hometown so members of her community can actually experience that is super important. Her ability to spark imagination, it’s timely. That installation, you see yourself in the work. You see your kids in it. There's not much art affecting me in that way.

What parallels do you see between sports, art, and technology?

MJ: I see a lot of parallels between artist and athlete. They both manifest value with their body and minds. They learn the process, and through training how to create things nobody else can. Technology has only advanced those abilities over time; It helps us to make better art, helps us to perform better but it also changes how the patrons of work or sport interact with it. It grows, you go from paintings to now digital and NFTs and you see the evolution of art. Even in sports, they have trackers in the pads, you can see how fast someone is running and it enhances the experience. I see that happening in both worlds.

Your favourite view, anywhere in the world?

MJ: At the top of Piz Nair in St. Moritz, Switzerland. I took a trip there a few years ago and it was by far the most scenic place I’ve ever been to. You're literally having lunch in the clouds. A sea of snow covered mountains and you’re just like, ‘yeah this is outside of my wheelhouse.’

Most memorable art or design show you’ve seen in the past year?

MJ: Tavares Strachan’s Starless Midnight he did with the Marian Goodman Gallery. Even from the sidewalk looking through the windows, you feel its weight. Not only all the materials —it’s ceramics, it’s painting, it’s real hair, he’s got music and electronic instruments playing — it’s this fully immersive show where you’re not there just looking at art, you’re feeling the space. Tavares is one of those artists that just continues to level up his practice.

Top picks from Christie’s right now?

MJ: I’ve always loved photography, and this image by Irving Penn really caught my eye. The composition, the model’s pose, and the angle of the hat all come together in such a striking way — it’s a smart and powerful use of form. And I’ve always liked Jasper Johns’ work. It has a way of drawing you in — you can’t help but take a closer look.