One Nice Summer: A Day In The Life – Antwaun Sargent
Becoming a prolific writer requires an inexhaustible cache of curiosity, and a burning passion for observing culture and documenting the human experience. Chicago native & current NYC dweller, Antwaun Sargent possesses all those qualities in spades, as is evident in the premier magazines he’s written for. His words have appeared in respected publications like Interview, Vogue, W Magazine, i-D, The New Yorker, Paper, and the Chicago Tribune Book Review.
For the second episode of our Day In The Life series, we shadowed Antwaun as he attended the NYFW Men’s shows and visited some of his favorite galleries. See our interview with Antwaun below:
Can you tell us a little more about what you do?
I’m a writer living in New York City who writes essays and reportage about contemporary art and culture.
How long have you lived in NYC?
I’ve lived in New York City since 2011, so six years.
What’s your creative outlet?
My creative outlets are seeing art, reading, and a good party. I am particularly obsessed with black contemporary art, because the way living black artists like David Hammons, Beyoncé, Carrie Mae Weems, Deana Lawson, Kerry James Marshall, Kanye West, Glenn Ligon, Awol Erizku, Hilton Als, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Arthur Jafa, Grace Wales Bonner, Duro Olowu, and Okwui Okpokwasili visually negotiate the world in endlessly fascinating ways speak to my own sense of possibility and creativity.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by experiencing culture which is to say, art, movies, music, social media, traveling, friends and fashion, and the people who make it. I write everyday and the culture and creatives who make it helps me to put my thoughts to paper with a level of originality. Their art also makes my life better because it’s the context in which I live, and think about about the current culture.
How would you describe your summer style?
I don’t really believe in seasonal style. I have really one rule: give a look and always wear a matching hat.
Describe “#OneNiceSummer” Day for you in NYC?
I would get up at maybe 6 AM and write for a few hours, then have brunch at Buttermilk Channel with all my good friends and then see some art on the way to say the beach. After the beach, we’d go to dinner at Indochine or DIMES and then go out to a party.
What are your favorite NYC summer spots to relax, eat, have fun, meet friends, etc?
This summer, I’ve been making friends come over to my apartment, we call Grey Gardens, after the 1975 film, because I have this large, unruly green backyard. We sit out and have Rosé and gossip. I have also been hanging out at a lot of art galleries, lobby bars of some downtown hotels, and Mr. Fongs, the dive bar under the Manhattan bridge.
What are your favorite art galleries and museums in NYC?
I don’t have any favorites. It’s really about the exhibitions on at any particular moment. In terms of galleries, Jack Shainman’s summer show, The Coffins of Paa Joe, is really good; Three. at We Buy Gold in Bedstuy is important and there’s Medium Tings in Crown Heights, ran out of a brownstone that really excites me because it’s completely experimental. As for museums, the New Museum’s solo of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s oils are great; The Whitney Museum’s 2017 biennial was important for the conversations about race and representation it started; MoMA’s Martine Syms project that successfully employed augmented reality in film was like nothing I have ever seen and The Studio Museum in Harlem always has good shows.
What songs will we find on your summer soundtrack?
I have the worst taste in music, but I have the following on heavy rotation right now: “Bodak Yellow” by Cardi B, Sza’s “Ctrl,” Jay Z’s “4:44” and “The Story of O.J.,” Kendrick Lamar’s “Damn,” Yo Gotti’s “Rake It Up,” Fade to Mind’s remix of Beyoncé’s “Love Drought,” and some Nina Simone, Kanye West, Drake, Rihanna and Vogue beats.
Any big projects coming up that you can share with us?
Right now, I’m finishing up features for some September issues of magazines, and I have my first piece coming out in a museum catalogue this fall, which is exciting.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about chasing your dreams in NYC?
You have to be totally committed. And get up early and stay out late!
Be sure to follow Antwaun Sargent on IG here.
