Vielmetter Los Angeles invites guests to join us on May 17th at 2:30pm for a conversation between artist Jared McGriff and curator Ronel Similien on the occasion of McGriff's solo exhibition The Stakes are Myself.

Jared McGriff (Los Angeles, 1977) received his BA in architecture from the College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley in 1999 and his MBA from New York University in 2008.

Solo exhibitions include Alone, Together (2019) and Only Touching the Ground to Jump (2020) at Spinello Projects, and a solo exhibition at Vielmetter Los Angeles, On Being a Wild Dream (2023). His work has been featured in solo booth presentations at NADA Miami (2020), Expo Chicago (2022), The Armory Show (2022), 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair - New York (2023, 2024). In 2021, McGriff had his debut museum solo exhibition, Where We Are You, at NSU Art Museum, curated by Bonnie Clearwater. He has been featured in museum group exhibitions at ICA Miami, Orlando Museum of Art, The Norton Museum of Art, and El Espacio 23.

His work is held at the permanent collections of the Rubell Museum, ICA Miami, NSU Art Museum, Orlando Museum of Art, El Espacio 23: Collection of Jorge Pérez, The Bunker Artspace: Collection of Beth Rudin DeWoody, The Knight Foundation, Green Family Art Foundation, Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places, and the Pérez Art Museum Miami. Jared was the recipient of the South Florida Cultural Consortium Grant (2021) and was awarded the Orlando Museum of Art’s Florida Prize (2022). He lives and works in Miami, Florida.

Ronel Similien is a Haitian-born art curator, advisor, and dealer whose dynamic presence has made him a rising force in the international art scene. With a unique ability to navigate the intersection of art and entertainment, he operates between cultural capitals such as Los Angeles and Dubai, cultivating meaningful cross-cultural connections through art.

Celebrated for his magnetic personality, infectious energy, and forward-thinking approach, Ronel has earned a reputation as a leading voice in the artistic narrative of the Black diaspora. His work transcends conventional boundaries, shaping collections and conversations that redefine the global cultural landscape.

Deeply committed to innovation, Ronel is passionate about the convergence of art and technology. He champions new paradigms for experiencing, collecting, and appreciating art in a fast-evolving digital world. His influence not only elevates artists and collectors but also pushes the art world into new, unexplored dimensions.