March 14, 2025
Minneapolis—The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is proud to partner with Public Functionary (PF) to present a five-week series of Meet at Mia programs surrounding the special exhibition “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.” This collaboration, led by the PF Curatorial Cohort, brings together local artists, performers, and cultural leaders to create immersive, thought-provoking experiences inspired by the exhibition’s themes.
The series kicks off with an opening program on March 20,2025, followed by weekly events exploring the exhibition’s central themes: Becoming Giants (March 27), On the Shoulders of Giants (April 3), Giant Conversations (April 10), and Giant Presence (April 17). Each program will feature a mix of music, film screenings, live performances, and exhibition tours, all curated and led by Public Functionary.
“Public Functionary has been so inspired by this unique opportunity to connect with The Dean Collection and the “Giants” exhibition—as it aligns so well with our values and vision,” said Tricia Heuring, Director/Curator of Public Functionary. “As we shape Thursday night programming at Mia, we’re focused on creating dialogue, connections, and experiences that celebrate the same level of excellence within our local art community.”
The PF Curatorial Cohort—Maiya Lea Hartman, Yonci Jameson, Silent Fox, and Mica Grimm—has thoughtfully curated the programming, drawing on their deep relationships within the Twin Cities arts community. This partnership underscores both PF and Mia’s shared commitment to supporting artists throughout their engagement and beyond.
“This collaboration highlights the impact of artist-led initiatives and the importance of creating space for community-driven storytelling,” said Anna Dilliard, Manager of Programming at Mia. “Public Functionary has been an incredible partner in shaping these programs, ensuring that they resonate with the themes of ‘Giants’ while offering new and meaningful ways for visitors to engage with the exhibition.”
Meet at Mia: PF x Mia Schedule
- March 20, 5–9 p.m.: Opening Program
- March 27, 5–9 p.m.: Becoming Giants
- April 3, 5–9 p.m.: On the Shoulders of Giants
- April 10, 5–9 p.m.: Giant Conversations
- April 17, 5–9 p.m.: Giant Presence
For more event information, visit https://new.artsmia.org/event/pf-meet-at-mia-giants.
To learn more about “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys” or other upcoming exhibitions, visit www.artsmia.org.
Meet the PF Curatorial Cohort
Silent Fox is a Minnesota-based visual artist, graphic designer, and muralist whose practice spans multiple media, including watercolor, acrylic, digital illustration, and photography. A graduate of Augsburg University with a BA in studio arts and graphic design, they have established themselves as a versatile creator under the banner of Silentfox.Studio. Their work has been recognized through Minnesota State Arts Board grants in both 2021 and 2022, supporting their community-focused artistic practice. As a lead director and creative curator of 13.4 Collective and member of Creatives After Curfew, their artistic philosophy, reflected in their chosen name, emphasizes the power of reflection and meaningful exploration in contemporary art-making.
Mica Grimm is a multidisciplinary creative project manager and event producer whose decade-plus career focuses on advancing racial justice through innovative community engagement. Their portfolio includes collaborations with prominent organizations and artists, including Black Lives Matter National, The Walker Art Center, Campaign Zero, and Pussy Riot, as well as consultation work with former president Barack Obama and various nonprofits. Grimm specializes in creating inclusive events and initiatives that honor diverse community needs while building authentic connections. Their work consistently prioritizes the advancement of social and racial justice, with a particular focus on supporting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities through meaningful collaboration and strategic event production.
Maiya Lea Hartman is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist and muralist based in Minneapolis. Their practice encompasses drawing, painting, ceramics, and mixed media, with work that examines traditions of the African Diaspora through figurative art incorporating textiles and symbols. They serve as the director of artist development for Public Functionary’s PF Studios program and work as a lead artist with Creatives After Curfew, a collective formed in response to George Floyd’s murder. Through both personal artwork and community-based projects, Hartman creates spaces for Black experience, memory, and liberation, while contributing to conversations about police abolition and community-led safety.
Yonci Jameson is a cultural curator, DJ, musician, and writer born, raised, and based in Minneapolis. Jameson has over a decade of experience in traditional West African percussion and jazz instrumentation, radio programming, and arts education and community organizing. Jameson explores, experiments, and expands into the past, present, and future of Black diasporic traditions by way of narrative prose and poetry, sound selection, performance, creative and collaborative ritual, rehearsals, jamming, putting pen to page, and breaking bread. Jameson aims to continue creating and sustaining spaces, conversations, and actions in solidarity with marginalized communities and in efforts to create a future free of anti-Blackness and queerphobia.
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About Public Functionary
Public Functionary (PF) is an artist-led space committed to celebrating multi-faceted identities and fostering creative production that is reparative and generous. PF Studios, housed in the Northrup King Building, cultivates the presence and growth of BIPOC and marginalized artists in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, supporting a diverse and thriving cultural community. For more information, visit publicfunctionary.org | @pfunctionary | @pfstudios.mpls
About the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 7,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration. Learn more about Mia in our latest Impact Report.
General admission to Mia is always free, but some special exhibitions charge a nominal fee.
For more information, call + 1 612 870 3000 or visit www.artsmia.org. Everyone is welcome. Always.