Wahter Studio - Theory

Michael Abel Deng is a founding partner of Abel Nile New York (ANY) and the Chief Design Officer of Homer. His work moves between architecture, painting, and design, often testing the boundaries of where one discipline ends and another begins. In this conversation, Mia and Michael talk about the edges of architecture, the role of improvisation in what he calls crisis formalism, and how questions of authorship, abstraction, and constraint continue to shape contemporary practice. This conversation took place in September 2025.

This interview with curator Ebony L. Haynes explores her approach to exhibition-making, artistic transparency, and the challenges of navigating the commercial art world. Haynes, known for her role at 52 Walker, provides insight into her curatorial philosophy, emphasizing instinct-driven decision-making over audience reception. She discusses the importance of financial transparency in galleries, the balance between creative freedom and market viability, and the evolving role of archiving in contemporary art spaces. The conversation also touches on her non-traditional entry into the art world, her views on art criticism, and the necessity of embracing failure as a tool for creative growth. This conversation took place in February, 2025.

Arthur Jafa is a visionary artist and cultural force whose work has profoundly shaped contemporary visual culture. Across decades, he has pushed the boundaries of cinema, sculpture, and art, crafting experiences that challenge, inspire, and move audiences. Recently, Jafa presented a two-part exhibition at Galerie Champ Lacombe in Biarritz. The first part, held from July 2024 to September 2024 featured his film LOML (“Love Of My Life”), a tribute to his late friend, Greg Tate. The second part, running from November 16, 2024, to January 16, 2025, showcases works that resonate with Jafa’s exploration of “Black visual intonation.” Pieces like “Tree” (1999) and “Frailsailgrailrail” (2024) exemplify his ability to infuse visual art with the power, beauty, and alienation of black music. This conversation took place in November 2024.