You couldn’t break Miya Bailey’s concentration as he carefully tattooed a customer’s left leg in the private tattoo and social club of City of Ink.
City of Ink is located above his first contemporary art gallery, Peter Street Station. Bailey was calm, cool, and collected one evening, not a thing in the world would take his eyes off his work, not even while discussing his newest gallery. On September 1, 2023, Bailey opened his second contemporary art gallery, Old Rabbit Gallery. Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Bailey moved to Atlanta in 1994 to escape the streets and pursue an art career. For Bailey, art is a social endeavor, balancing solitude with collaboration. Bailey’s decision to open Old Rabbit Gallery was influenced by the vibrant art scene he found on Peter Street.
“When I first moved on Peter Street, there were a lot of art galleries over here,” Bailey remembers.
The space now housing Old Rabbit Gallery had previously been an art gallery and Bailey felt it was time to revive the gallery scene in the area. He says his goal was to reinvigorate the local art community and provide a platform for contemporary artists.
“All my friends are artists, everybody I know. I like to be social. I like to work in private, but I also, when I did Peter Street Station, it was mostly because I didn’t want to work by myself all the time,” Bailey said.
Bailey aimed to create a space where artists can interact, learn, and grow together.
“Sometimes I want to hang out with my friends and paint up here, ” he says. “Sometimes I want to paint by myself. Sometimes I want to, you know, I got an option to keep it open or I can feed off of another artist from over there. But we bounce off stuff,” Bailey continued.
“Being able to curate art in all these beautiful galleries that Miya Bailey has created has been very rewarding. He trusts and believes in my vision, and the community I love does as well,” said Plushette Ellis, gallery curator.
Currently on display at Old Rabbit is the exhibit “Troublesome,” featuring works by Mr. Soul, a graphic artist born in Cleveland. Mr. Soul moved to Atlanta on November 23, 1996, a date coinciding with his nephew’s birthday. His decision to relocate was influenced by both personal and professional motivations, and he believed Atlanta’s vibrant culture was ideal for his artistic growth. The music and movement of the Dungeon Family and Organized Noize, which provided a powerful musical backdrop, inspired his vision for his art.
Reflecting on his exhibition “Troublesome,” the title of the show inspired by a Tupac song, Mr. Soul told The Atlanta Voice that the energy of the song resonated with his experiences of trials and tribulations, especially during his 20 years in Atlanta. The exhibition, which includes 20 pieces, also touches on significant moments, such as conversations he had with his father before his father’s passing in 2016 and his subsequent move back to Cleveland.
Mr. Soul hopes new viewers of his art will feel the energy behind his art and find personal meaning in it. “I want people to be inspired by the work. I want the community of artists and people in Atlanta that I did the work for, I want them to be satisfied with the presentation, and that part of me doing this show was for that community as well,” said Soul.
The imagery in Mr. Soul’s work often evokes powerful social and political themes. The “Dusted and Disgusted” series, inspired by a song by E-40, addresses issues such as street politics, betrayal, and systemic forces that create poverty and violence. The series features young black women who appear ready to challenge the status quo, representing a generation conscious of the societal issues they face. Another notable piece in his collection is the Marvin Gaye piece, inspired by his mother’s love for the artist.
“My My” is Bailey’s next (and 8th) solo art exhibit and is set to debut on September 6th, 2024.
July 5th is the opening of Old Rabbit Gallery’s latest exhibit, “adult swim” , a solo exhibition by Kaylah Hagler.
Old Rabbit Gallery is located on 309A Peters Street, Atlanta, Ga 30313.