LOVE by Cey AdamsPhoto by Juan Prieto Photography. Artist Cey Adams commissioned to paint the public art piece in Fort Lauderdale
The writing’s on the wall, and it’s all about Love. Business for the Arts of Broward (BFA), a not-for-profit 501(c)(3), commissioned globally recognized artist Cey Adams to paint his famous LOVE mural that will officially be unveiled just in time for Valentine’s Day on the western exterior wall of Hof’s House of Sweets at 601 E Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale facing the new Tunnel Top Park.
LOVE by Cey Adams is sure to become one of Fort Lauderdale’s most popular Instagrammable spots and the perfect backdrop for proposals and engagement photos. Adams previously painted “LOVE” murals in Detroit and Jackson, Michigan; New Bedford and Chelsea, Massachusetts; St. Paul, Minnesota; Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York; and North Omaha, Nebraska.
Artist Cey Adams poses in front of his LOVE mural in Fort Lauderdale. Photo by Juan Prieto Photography
“Our mural program is designed to bring art to the local community,” said Jarett Levan, Board Chair of BFA, which educates businesses about the importance of Broward County’s arts and cultural community and engages them in building connections between cultural vitality, creative success and economic development. “Sometimes murals are long term, and some are short term or seasonal. In either case, public murals bring joy to the local community, inspire conversation and enhance the neighborhood.”
LOVE by Cey Adams was curated by BFA with the support of sponsors Community Foundation of Broward, BBX Capital Fund at the Community Foundation of Broward, Dara and Jarett Levan Fund at the Community Foundation of Broward, Banyan Tree Companies, BBI, Cathy & James Donnelly Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Broward, Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Hudson Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Broward, Las Olas Capital Arts, The Las Olas Company, Lori and Seth Wise, New River Fine Art, Shutts, Starmark, The Frank Family, The Royal Barnes Family, UNCS and Yes We Are Mad.
Community Foundation of Broward employees with artist Cey Adams on Sponsor Paint Day. Photo by Lori Pratico
LOVE by Cey Adams is the latest addition to BFA’s mural program. It joins Las Olas by Lori Pratico, Steven Teller’s mural that was previously on Las Olas and was commissioned through a BFA partnership, the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority’s mural by Lori Pratico and Habitat for Humanity’s mural by EVOCA1. More murals are planned for the future.
BFA offers the public art program to curate and facilitate interior and exterior murals and sculptures. Arts improve the image and identity of communities, attracts new visitors and integrates the vision of both community and business leaders. Businesses and organizations in Broward County interested in having a mural painted can learn more here. The program supports local artists and creatives and reinforces the culture of community, connectivity, unity and engagement across diverse populations.
(L-R) Jarett Levan, President and CEO of BBX Capital; Cey Adams, artist; and Robyn Vegas, Executive Director of Business for the Arts. Photo by Lori Pratico
Business for the Arts of Broward is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) that engages businesses and business leaders to advocate and educate about the importance of the County’s art and cultural community as well as to recognize the connection between cultural vitality, creative success and economic development. The organization’s Public Art Committee’s mural program is modeled after Wynwood Walls in Miami, Yorkville Murals in Toronto, Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Baltimore Mural Program, among others.
For more information about BFA and its programs, contact Robyn Vegas at 954-940-4933 or [email protected].
Community Foundation of Broward employees contribute to the LOVE mural on Sponsor Paint Day. Photo by Lori Pratico
About Business for the Arts of Broward
Business for the Arts of Broward is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) engaging businesses and business leaders to advocate and educate about the importance of the County’s art and cultural community as well as to recognize the connection between cultural vitality, creative success, and economic development. To learn more visit www.Facebook.com/BFABroward or www.bfabroward.org.
About Cey Adams
Adams is a New York City native who emerged from the downtown graffiti movement to exhibit alongside fellow artists Jean-Michael Basquiat and Keith Haring. He appeared in the historic 1983 PBS documentary “Style Wars” about New York’s graffiti culture. As the founding Creative Director of Hip-Hop’s Def Jam Recordings, Adams co-founded the Drawing Board, the label’s in-house visual design firm where he created visual identities, album covers, logos and advertising campaigns for Run DMC, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Notorious B.I.G., Maroon 5 and Jay-Z. Adams draws inspiration from 60s pop art, sign painting, comic books and popular culture.
He lectures and teaches at MoMA, Brooklyn Museum, Museum of the City of New York, New York University, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Walker Art Center, MoCA Los Angeles, Pratt Institute, Stamford University, Howard University, Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, High Museum, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Mount Royal University and the University of Winnipeg, Canada. He co-authored “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop” and designed “Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label.” To learn more, go to ceyadams.com.
