Someone get J Balvin a mic! No, not to rap – this time. The musician has officially been named the emcee of the 2021 Beyond the Streets virtual art fair, which takes place December 1-2.
The two-day event, which celebrates graffiti and street art, will be available to view on the NTWRK app. During the fair, Balvin will host different art discussions and exhibitions. Billboard broke the news Monday (November 15).
“Balvin is a known art collector and has a clear vision for aesthetics,” an official press release reads. “His home is a sanctuary where art is the protagonist, making him the perfect emcee for this year’s Beyond the Streets.”
The 2021 Beyond the Streets virtual art fair will be curated by graffiti historian and publisher Roger Gastman. Artists participating this year include Mister Cartoon, Mike GIANT, Bert Krak, Spacebrat, CB Hoyo, DABSMYLA with Late Lunch, Wild Style with Vic Mensa, MADSAKI, Takashi Murakami and POSE, among many others.
Beyond the Streets is described as a “mainstay for art fans and continues Gastman’s vision as a longtime champion of graffiti as a contemporary art form.” Besides art, the event will also offer the opportunity for guests to purchase other items like collectibles, clothing and home décor.
The last in-person Beyond the Streets event took place in 2019. The New York Times called it “an epically scaled exhibition…a themed amusement park of all things graffiti and post-graffiti.” For more information on Beyond the Streets, visit beyondthestreets.com.
