THE COLLECTIVE

Jenny Larsson started Wild Beast Collective in 2016, after having worked with so many talented artists from various art fields in south Florida a few years back. Wild Beast Collective focus on exploring the interdisciplinary landscape, creating work that speaks to people in more than one “language.” We produce short films, site-specific performances, performances for the theater as well as site specific performances. We also offer a interdisciplinary performance art platform through our Fågelbo Residency- a three-week long artist residency for two collaborating artists from the visual and performance art field, held both in the US and in Sweden.

MISSION

Wild Beast Collective is a group of artists from various disciplines. Our mission is to explore, stretch, and deepen the understanding of contemporary art through multiple mediums. By creating art in unconventional places, or hosting events that are free to the public, we aim to engage the communities directly impacted by our projects. Our work often explores both the body and the site, and working site-specific gives us an opportunity to cooperate with the community native to the site, understanding its legacy and current political climate. We are also heavily influenced and engaged with environmental issues and the climate change. Having members that live and work in different parts of the world allows for various levels of collaboration and involvement in each other’s projects. This cultural and artistic diversity helps foster a vibrant dialogue within the collective.

Since 2016, Wild Beast has produced experimental short films, interactive performance/exhibitions, and a new artist residency. We have created performances for the stage and for specific sites, developed collaborations with other organizations such AIRIE, Everglades National Park, The FIU Nature Preserve, The Frank Gallery, Girls’ Club, Miami Light Project, FATVillage Projects, ICA Miami among others.

COLLABORATORS OF WILD BEAST

Kordian Rönnberg (POL), Diana Rönnberg (SWE/POL), Livia Hiselius (SWE), Valtteri Keinänen (FIN), Rebecca Lång (SWE), Siri Bertling Wiik (SWE), Edison Peñafiel (ECU/US), Dag Rosenqvist (SWE), Rachel Carroll (US) and Lize-Lotte Pitlo (NLD/US).

FÅGELBO RESIDENCY

Wild Beast Collective launched a new collaborative artist residency in 2017 named Fågelbo (The Nest) Residency.  The residency aims to elevate as well as educate the performance art field of south Florida. It seeks to establish a much needed program platform for an underserved art field through an original residency opportunity. Collaborating artist teams will consist of a visual/interdisciplinary artist and a performing artist, applying together with a project proposal. The residency is hosted by FATVillage Projects, consisting of several warehouses in Fort Lauderdale, FL. They offer 8,000 sq feet of space for work, exhibitions, and performances. A residency stretches between 3-4 weeks, giving time for research and installation, as well as exhibiting and performance opportunities. 

Fågelbo Residency became an international exchange program in 2020, after receiving substantial founding from The Knight Art Foundation, Broward County Cultural Affairs and Region Halland. During 2020-2021 we were able to offer four residencies in Sweden and south Florida.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

MICHELLE WEINBERG

Michelle Weinberg is a painter who creates art for surfaces, interiors, architecture and public spaces. She brings pastel and hothouse color, eccentric pattern, stylized and geometric forms together to produce what she describes as “vivid backdrops for human activity.” Weinberg has exhibited at museums and galleries in the US and abroad and received awards and fellowships from Pollock-Krasner Foundation, South Florida Cultural Consortium, MacDowell Colony and more.

Neil De La Flor

Neil de la Flor is an educator, writer, artist and Executive Director of Reading Queer. He writes for the Miami New Times where he covers art and culture in South Florida. 

Leah Brown

Leah Brown (MFA, UM 2014; BFA, RISD 2004) is a Fort Lauderdale-based artist and curator.  She is part of the FATVillage Arts District 501c3 in Ft Lauderdale, FL, where she oversees the execution of art exhibitions in the Projects, an 8,000 sq ft gallery space that is a recipient of the 2015-2016 Knight Arts Challenge Grant. She is a recipient of the South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship, and exhibits regularly in museum exhibitions.