UW–Madison’s Tandem Press is hosting a special happy hour celebrating the art of Derrick Adams on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 4–7 p.m., at Lola’s Hi/Lo Lounge.
The event will feature a program at 6 p.m., when Adams will join Faisal Abdu’Allah, UW–Madison printmaking professor, associate dean of the arts, and the Chazen Family Distinguished Chair in Art, for a conversation titled, “Needle & Thread: Vinyl Records in Artistic Practice.” Shaped around a curated selection of tracks, the discussion will explore how music influences identity, emotion, and memory. Together, the artists will interweave personal histories and broader cultural narratives, creating a vibrant tapestry of sound and storytelling that connects art to the shared rhythms of life.
Tickets for this event are $55 and include two drink tickets and appetizers — all proceeds will support the publication of a forthcoming book on Adams’ printmaking practice. Learn more and buy tickets.
Following this program, the party will move across the street to Tandem Press for the public opening reception of “Silver Lining: The Prints of Derrick Adams,” from 7–9 p.m. in the Apex Gallery (1743 Commercial Ave.). The exhibition will be on view from Oct. 8 through Dec. 19, 2025.
The opening reception is free and open to the public — no ticket required.
About Derrick Adams
Adams is a multidisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. His work explores themes of contemporary Black life and culture, often through scenes of everyday experience. Adams has visited Tandem Press several times since 2019 to create fine art, limited-edition prints. His work is included in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, among others. In spring 2026, a mid-career survey of his work will open at the ICA Boston.