“From Shadows to Screens: The Rise of Stories Once Silenced”

In recent years, the art world has witnessed a growing movement to reclaim and celebrate the stories of creatives whose contributions were under-recognized in their lifetimes. One example is the upcoming biopic of fashion designer Ann Lowe — a Black woman who broke through racial and cultural barriers to become a respected couturier, yet whose legacy remained largely hidden for decades. Her work reached its pinnacle when she designed the wedding gown for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1953, but many of the backstage struggles she faced — including reconstructing the gown after a studio flooding just ten days before the ceremony — remained untold for too long.

Meanwhile, the story of Jean‑Michel Basquiat is entering a new chapter. The upcoming film titled Samo Lives is set to dramatize the life and meteoric rise of the neo-expressionist artist, whose work exploded out of the New York City street-and-gallery scene in the early 1980s. Although previous documentaries and films have attempted to capture Basquiat’s vision and tragedy, this new biopic promises fresh insight, wider visibility and deeper respect for his craft and cultural impact.

Together, these two stories reflect the growing awareness that artists — especially Black artists and creatives from marginalized communities — deserve to have their narratives told fully and respectfully. Their contributions are not just personal achievements, but also vital strands in the social and cultural tapestry of our times.

As a society, we must do more than watch their stories unfold on screen. We should buy art, honor artists and creatives while they’re living, and invest in their work — not just as commodities, but as living legacies. The fact that even decades after his death the legacy of The Notorious B.I.G. is still pulling in around $80 million this year is a stark reminder of how value accumulates when we value creators. This paired with the enduring claim of Michael Jackson as the highest-earning musician of all time further underscores the lesson: creative work matters, and we should honor it while the artist still breathes.

Let these films be catalysts — not just for storytelling, but for action. Purchase art. Attend exhibitions. Support living creators. Because the value of their work is not just in retrospectives, but in the living present. Remember Darling, the show must go on and in good fashion.