TEMPERATURE CHECK
An ISE-DA initiative taking the pulse of Black cultural stewardship.
“What are the potentials of growing Black patronage across the diaspora, and how can we cultivate lasting infrastructure for cross-diasporic cultural exchange and support as a new generation of Black patrons emerges?”
Introducing Temperature Check — a traveling research and programming initiative that takes the pulse of Black cultural stewardship across the diaspora.
ABOUT TEMPERATURE CHECK
Conceived in 2022, Temperature Check is an initiative that assesses and documents the growth of Black cultural stewardship across the diaspora. Comprised of an exhibition, events, and programming, it explores how Black cultural patronage can be expanded and sustained across the diaspora. The initiative focuses on a different diasporic city every two years, conducting in-depth research on the infrastructure necessary to support and grow Black patronage.
The goals of Temperature Check are:
Visibility – Showcase Black cultural contributions globally and discover potential and existing Black cultural stewards across the diaspora.
Community Building – Foster networks between Black artists, collectors, and institutions.
Legacy Creation – Document and preserve Black cultural production for future generations.
WHY IT MATTERS
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With a mission to showcase global Black cultural contributions, Temperature Check will help shed light on both the collection and production of global Black diasporic art. The exhibition will always be a cross-disciplinary curatorial effort. Additionally, because our program will geographically rotate and coincide with established art fairs and biennales, Temperature Check will be a sustainable addition to the arts calendar.
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Temperature Check's programming provides the host city an opportunity for international audiences to truly engage and become familiar with the local arts community, artists, and professionals outside of what the Temperature Check exhibition highlights.
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Our program specifically focuses on and highlights global Black art production and collectors. Temperature Check will highlight, document, publish, and track the development of this sector with each progressing edition.
Launched in São Paulo in September 2025, Temperature Check’s first iteration centered around a week of programming during the São Paulo Biennial and the Rotas Brasileiras art fairs. The initiative engaged Afro-Brazilian professionals, patrons, and cultural leaders during a period of vibrant artistic activity, laying the groundwork for ongoing research and programming over the subsequent two years.
The São Paulo immersion week was co-organized with 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair and in partnership with Latitude: Platform for Brazilian Galleries and Cutuca Projetos Culturais. ISE-DA and 1-54’s decision to join forces reflected our organizations’ aligned missions of championing African and diasporic art and cultivating new generations of collectors.
ISE-DA brought together 10 emerging Black collectors, while 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair convened 17 established international collectors and patrons. This convergence fostered cross-generational exchange in a dynamic environment, set against the vibrant backdrop of São Paulo’s artistic scene.
The curated program included:
A special focus on contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, highlighting artists featured in the Bienal
Guided visits to the São Paulo Bienal
Exclusive visits to artist studios, leading galleries, collections, and key cultural institutions
From intimate studio visits to immersive residencies, participants explored São Paulo through a rich and dynamic cultural lens, celebrating the voices shaping the global contemporary art landscape.
OUR INAUGURAL EDITION: SÃO PAULO
OUR LAUNCH EVENTS:
To launch Temperature Check, ISE-DA hosted a series of events in Fall 2024 and into 2025. The activations, panels, and dinners in various cities will cultivate a group of Black art professionals ready to visit and explore Black cultural production in our first international city.
TSCHABALALA SELF & BRANDON BLACKWOOD ON BLACK ART, COLLECTING & CULTURAL STEWARDSHIP:
For our New York launch event during Armory Week, ISE-DA invited artist Tschabalala Self and collector/designer Brandon Blackwood to have a conversation on art and collecting moderated by curator/writer Jenée Strand.
CANVAS NOIR
To prepare our guests — and Black professionals interested in collecting — for the Afro-Brazilian arts ecosystem, we hosted an evening at Tara Downs Gallery, featuring a private walkthrough of Tropical Noir, a solo exhibition by Afro-Brazilian artist Lu Ferreira. The audience included entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders from companies such as Meta and the NFL, as well as professionals across law, finance, and other industries.
