Book Review: Kimberly Drew’s This is What I Know About Art

This is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew is part of the series Pocket Chance Collective. This series “was born out of a need for space. Space to think. Space to connect. Space to be yourself. And this is your invitation to join us.”

© Veda Lane

For years now I have followed Kimberly Drew on Instagram. She is a curator, writer, activist and so, so much more; it feels reductive to try to capture the vibrancy of her persona in a description. Her page is an endless source of inspiration – a carefully curated space where she shares art, fashion, and engages with the public in activism. Most of all: Her voice is strong! 

So I must say, when I saw she had published a book, I was extremely excited to read it and see what she had to say.

What I found inside was a beautifully worded, powerful testimony of Drew’s personal experience about how she became involved in art and activism. Her first steps in navigating these worlds, and some of the struggles and fears she faced, resonated with a young person like me who is still attempting to find her voice and her place. Simultaneously, this book transmits great passion and inspiration to be the change we want to see in the art world. 

Among the aspects I most appreciated of This is What I Know About Art are the tips Drew shares, suggestions she picked up during her own experience, for example how Thelma Golden taught her that “it was not enough to be angry. I had to be strategic.” about her activism, which especially in these times made me think: How do I engage with activism?

A further encouragement shared by Drew is to allow oneself time to research inspirational figures, like the people she writes about in her book. I wrote all the names down and studied those who I was not familiar with, and once again I found I had a lot to learn from her. 

I would like to let you in on one of the reasons why I personally admire Kimberly Drew: she truly does everything in her power to fight not just for inclusion, but most of all for change. As one example of many, in This is What I Know About Art, she speaks about how “For three years, with the power of social media, I tried to show as many people as possible how many doors there could be to the institution (The Metropolitan Museum of Art).” Can you imagine attempting to spread awareness on accessible entrances when one of the most iconic aspects of the Met are the stairs? Again, as ever, her words are inspiring, necessary and should make us think, think about what we can do to actively shape the future we want to see and be a part of. 

I highly recommend this book; it is an easy read, but with so many layers and starting points for learning and conversations. 

Drew, Kimberly. This is What I Know About Art (Pocket Change Collective).

Penguin Young Readers Group. 2020.

Erica Romani,

Head of Reviews, MADE IN BED