BROOKLYN, NY.- The Brooklyn Museum has acquired two major works by emerging artists Diedrick Brackens and Gala Porras-Kim that will join the Museum's permanent collection through the generous support of The LIFEWTR Fund at Frieze New York. The LIFEWTR Fund builds on the 15-year tradition of museum acquisition funds at Frieze Art Fairs and deepens the partnership between Frieze and LIFEWTR, a premium water brand committed to supporting and advancing the careers of emerging artists.

Launched in 2017, The LIFEWTR Fund supports the acquisition of significant works by emerging artists for the Brooklyn Museum at Frieze New York. The LIFEWTR Fund made possible the Museum's 2017 acquisition of Untitled (1971), by Virginia Jaramillo, as well as Untitled (1978-80), a large-scale abstract painting by the American artist Ed Clark, in 2018. Both works are currently featured in the international touring exhibition Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power, now on view at the Broad Art Museum, Los Angeles.

The 2019 selection panel includes Anne Pasternak, Shelby White and Leon Levy Director of the Brooklyn Museum, and Susan Fisher, Acting Chief Curator, along with curators Eugenie Tsai, Catherine Morris, Drew Sawyer, Ashley James, and Carmen Hermo. The LIFEWTR Fund is chaired and organized by Olga Osminkina-Jones, Vice President, Hydration & Innovation, Global Beverages, PepsiCo.

The panel chose two works from Los Angeles-based galleries: when no softness came (2019), by Diedrick Brackens, from the gallery Various Small Fires, and 13 International Dogs (2019), by Gala Porras-Kim, from Commonwealth and Council.

Brackens (b. 1989) explores the intersections of identity and sociopolitical issues through thoughtful, intricate, and large-scale figurative tapestries inspired by the cultural histories of African, American, and European textiles. Various Small Fires gallery, which is debuting at Frieze with a solo presentation of works by Brackens, is participating in the fair's Frame section, curated by Andrew Bonacina (The Hepworth Wakefield, U.K.) and Laura McLean-Ferris (Swiss Institute, New York City) and featuring solo presentations of emerging artists.

Gala Porras-Kim (b.1984) works across media including sculpture and drawing, and engages conceptually with Mesoamerican cultural objects and museum practices, with a particular interest in histories of conservation and preservation. Commonwealth and Council is part of a new, curated section at Frieze New York, called Dialogos, which showcases Latinx and Latin American artists and is presented by El Museo del Barrio, New York City.

"We're so grateful for the continued opportunity to add work to our collection through The LIFEWTR Fund at Frieze," stated Anne Pasternak, Shelby White and Leon Levy Director of the Brooklyn Museum. "LIFEWTR's support has been transformative, as the previous two significant works by Ed Clark and Virginia Jaramillo have since been widely lauded and are actively traveling to major museums throughout the U.S. and UK. Now this year's acquisitions deepen our commitment to supporting emerging artists, and further the canon-expanding conversations we're able to have across collections."

Olga Osminkina-Jones said, "In everything we do at LIFEWTR, we are dedicated to showcasing emerging artists and helping them advance their careers. Over the last two years, we have seen how the institutional support of an artist's work can positively impact the artist as well as the museum community. Frieze and the Brooklyn Museum are wonderful partners that share our purpose, and we are so proud that The LIFEWTR Fund can make a lasting impact and deliver on our shared goal of supporting creativity globally."

Loring Randolph, Artistic Director for Americas, Frieze Fairs, added, "Following The LIFEWTR Fund's exceptional acquisitions over the last two years, with works by Ed Clark and Virginia Jaramillo, we are so pleased to continue this important element of our partnership with LIFEWTR and support the Brooklyn Museum in acquiring Diedrick Brackens's when no softness came (2019) and Gala Porras-Kim's 13 International Dogs (2019). LIFEWTR has demonstrated a sincere commitment to supporting the careers of emerging artists, from initiatives such as the new Frieze LIFEWTR Sculpture Prize for emerging artists to support of the exhibition Electric at Frieze New York. We could not be happier to help the work of Brackens and Porras-Kim find a permanent home in the Brooklyn Museum."

In 2018 LIFEWTR was named the Official Global Water and Emerging Program Partner for Frieze as part of a wide-ranging, multifaceted global partnership that furthers the shared commitment to support emerging artists at various touchpoints.