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until 13.06. | #5051ARTatBerlin | Semjon Contemporary shows from Saturday, 02. May 2026 (Opening: 01.05.) the exhibition THE MESSAGE ACCORDING TO SANSOVINO6: weaving resilience by the artist Edward L. Buchanan.
Edward L. Buchanan, born in 1970 in Cleveland, Ohio, and living in Milan since the early 1990s, had already made an appearance at Semjon Contemporary in 2012 with his Milan-based gender-fluid knitwear label Sansovino 6, transforming the space into an Indigo pop-up shop where his invention of knitted jeans was presented as a spatial collage (incidentally, numerous fashion houses copied his knitted jeans upon their early release).
The pandemic and the foreign policy turmoil of recent years have repeatedly forced him to postpone his second exhibition, but now the time has finally come. Although, his unique fashion illustrations and collages have been featured time and again in group exhibitions. This will be his second one man show ever.
As an African American in Italy—ever since his first job in 1994 as designer director for Bottega Veneta’s ready-to-wear collections, hired immediately after graduating from the Parsons School of Design in New York, he has long since become”italianized” and defines himself often as an AfroItalian, yet he continues to experience the unfortunate racist nature of everyday life in Italy—and in the fashion world in general. For this reason he has chosen to engaged with this issue through his work, as well as, together with colleagues Designer Stella Jean, and Michelle Francine Ngonmo, Founder of Afro Fashion Association, by founding WAMI (We Are Made In Italy) to-address the systemic racism in the Italian fashion space. Edward’s insistence has evolved into a diverse initiative within the Italian fashion industry, where he and his co-founders pool their energy, projects, and campaigns to support younger generation through workshops, awards, and scholarships. His commitment is also purposefully reflected in his knitwear designs, which incorporate motto’s such as RESIST and WAKE UP into his Sansovino6 collection.
The exhibition will feature a selection of his Knitwear designs for Sansovino6, his signature CHECK YOUR NECK scarves, as well as artifacts from-his campaigns, fashion photography, and sketches, creating a makeshift workshop atmosphere. Some of his earlier fashion illustrations will also be on display*
For several years now, he has also served as a the Milano fashion director for Perfect magazine, using video, photography, and his commentary to document the latest trends among both emerging and established designers. This experience, combined with his standing as a fashion veteran, brings him back to Berlin time and again to serve as a visiting journalist and mentor for the Fashion Council Germany.
Semjon H. N. Semjon, April 2026
In addition, ceramic artist Maria Volokhova will exhibit a selection of works from her art project Hope – Nadija at KioskShop berlin (KSb). A portion of the proceeds will go to Starenki, a specific aid project that supports elderly people living in Ukraine.
Opening: Friday, 01. May 2026, 7–10 pm
Exhibition dates: Saturday, 02. May until Saturday, 13. June 2026
To the gallery
Titel image caption: Edward L. Buchanan with his RESIST scarf, © Sansovino6 CHECK YOU NECK initiative, Photo: Piotr Niepsuj
Exhibition Edward L. Buchanan – Semjon Contemporary | Zeitgenössische Kunst | Contemporary Art | Exhibitions Berlin Galleries – ART at Berlin
