Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys Are Inspired to Collect Art Because They ‘Understand How Hard It Is to Be an Artist’

Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys say that their passion for collecting art is inspired by their work as artists.

In a new interview with CNN, the power couple gave the company a tour of their new “Giants” exhibition at the High Museum of Art. When asked about why they collect, Keys revealed that they’re motivated by their experiences as artists.

“There’s really a passion as an artist to collect and support artists,” she said. “We understand how hard it is to be an artist. We understand how hard it is to have autonomy over your work.”

Later on in the walkthrough, Keys explained why the exhibition is called “Giants.”

“Many of the works are oversized, but the creators of the works are giants,” she explained. “They’re masters and they are incredible.”

“And then, there is this idea of accessing your own giant, being unafraid to be as big as possible, and not afraid to take up space in the room,” she continued. “Be present, be powerful, Be you.”

The “Giants” exhibition will be held from Sept. 13 through Jan. 19 in the Cousins Special Exhibition Gallery at the High Museum in Atlanta. Organized by the Brooklyn Museum and having originally made its debut there in February, the collection features 115 objects (98 of them are major artworks) that are owned by Beatz and Keys.

Some of the artists that are included in the exhibit are Derrick Adams, Meleko Mokgosi, Nick Cave, Lorna Simpson, Barkley L. Hendricks, Deana Lawson, Amy Sherald, and Ebony G. Patterson, and Arthurr Jafa.

Speaking with ARTnews in 2019, Keys detailed the importance of uplifting those who contribute to their communities as artists do. “There are far too many artists of all kinds—musicians, painters, sculptors, dancers—who have unfortunately contributed so much to the culture and have died with nothing,” she said. “That’s crazy—it’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”

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