22-year-old artist Gabrielle Narcisse felt a gaping hole in her heart during the pandemic. The desire for connection and community during the tumultuous learning of constant police brutality led her to starting her organization. She attributes her mother’s book club for Black girls as a source of inspiration, although it was unbeknownst to her when she first began.
“I didn’t realize at the time, as a child growing up as the only Black girl in her class, I found a lot of solace in being surrounded by Black girls and women. I needed it,” she tells GU. “The constant isolation I felt as a kid resulted in me having a lot of self-hatred, but book club was where through the lens of young female protagonists (often Black) the girls and I were able to verbalize our feelings.”
Photo Credit: Reese Fleming
That’s what Narcisse wanted for Black Girl Fight Club—a true safe space to feel the full nuance of Black girlhood, belonging, and overall joy in community. Through events like Black Girl Yoga Club to gallery openings like her recent exhibition curated alongside artist Kendra Gourgue entitled Chrysalis hosted by Canada NYC gallery in New York City, Narcisse is fostering experiences for Black girls to bond in new and healing ways. Both young women’s intentional curation featured an array of multidisciplinary artworks from paintings to sculptures all created by Black woman Gen Z artists.
“Opening night for Chrysalis felt like a dream. Chrysalis was the third BGFC Art Exhibition I’ve curated, but the first one in an established gallery space, and this one was definitely the most successful exhibition. Leaving the gallery opening night I felt a sense of awe; like I’m finally arriving,” said Narcisse. Gourgue’s reflections on the opening night echoed Narcisse as she noted that the weeks of planning were worth reveling in their hard work. “There are many moments that serve as proof that our dreams, idealizations, and hopes for community can be actualized. The opening night was one of them,” said Gourgue.
Photo Credit: Jabari Browne
The closing event for Chrysalis curated by Gourgue unveiled a plethora of Black artists and vendors including Free Black Women’s Library, tooth gems by Gems by Hadiya, a guided meditation by Taj’s Tower, perfume samples by Yas Apothecary, and much more. From starting out virtually to now, Black Girl Fight Club’s expansion can’t be ignored. Narcisse has assembled a range of Black girls from visual artists, designers, DJs, yoga instructors and more into her safe designed solely for them.
In the future, you can expect more exhibitions and, hopefully, a permanent physical hub for Black Girl Fight Club to utilize. Narcisse’s goal for her club is to continue building a community of Black women through time, attentiveness, and care.
Photo Credit: Jabari Browne