Ki Smith Gallery Presents “Friend” to benefit Sentebale: A Public Exhibition at the Intersection of Art and Impact

Photo credit Roman Dean

New York, NY, December 2, 2024 – Sentebale, the nonprofit organization founded in 2016 by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, and HRH Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, is proud to announce a unique collaboration with the Ki Smith Gallery. The Lower East Side gallery, owned and operated by New York native Ki Smith, will host “Friend”, a museum-quality, public exhibition showcasing a stellar collection of works by pioneers of Minimalism and Op Art alongside contemporary artists. This unique showcase will benefit Sentebale’s mission of empowering vulnerable children and young people in Southern Africa through sustainable solutions in health, wealth creation, and climate resilience.

Curated by Ki Smith, “Friend” will be open to the public free of charge as of Saturday, December 14, and will feature iconic works by artists such as Bridget Riley, Frank Stella, Tadaaki Kuwayama, Rakuko Naito and Agnes Martin, alongside pieces by contemporary creators like Sono Kuwayama, Dylan Reitz-Cruz, and Taiji Terasaki. By donating 100% of the gallery’s profits from the exhibition to Sentebale, Smith aims to redefine the intersection of art and impact, making philanthropy and high art seamlessly interlinked.

“When I first learned about Sentebale, I was struck by their innovative and community-driven approach to tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges affecting the next generation,” said gallerist Ki Smith. “The ethos of Sentebale aligns perfectly with the values of our gallery: collaboration, optimism, and empowering the next generation. ‘Friend’ is more than an exhibition; it’s a celebration of what we can achieve when we come together to create meaningful change.”

The exhibition draws its name and spirit from the concept of friendship, a theme integral to both the gallery and Sentebale’s work that relies deeply on community engagement and joining forces with national and international organizations to carry out programming.

“Friend” also holds a personal resonance for Smith, who named the exhibition in honor of his late grandfather, artist Tadaaki Kuwayama, whom he and his siblings affectionately called “Friend” and whose work is a part of the exhibit.

Founding Patrons Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, and HRH Prince Seeiso of Lesotho reflected on the partnership and Ki Smith’s recent visit to Lesotho:

“This collaboration with Ki Smith and his gallery is incredibly meaningful to the organization. Having Ki join us in Lesotho this past October to see Sentebale’s work firsthand, and to experience the creativity, resilience and determination of the young people we serve, was truly special. ‘Friend’ is making art accessible to everyone—an act that resonates deeply with Sentebale’s ethos of leaving no one behind. This exhibition captures the spirit of inclusivity and community that lies at the heart of both Sentebale and Ki Smith Gallery. Sharing art as a powerful force for connection and change, is inspiring.”

Dr. Sophie Chandauka MBE, Sentebale’s Board Chair said:

“Ki Smith’s visionary approach to merging art and philanthropy is deeply impactful. By showcasing works of such high calibre artists and making them accessible whilst telling the story of the promise and power of Africa’s youth through the work of Sentebale, we see the impact of friendships beyond borders. Africa’s young people are set to make up nearly 40% of the world’s youth population by 2050. A significant proportion of them struggle with access to healthcare, skills and employment. Collaborations like this help us engage new communities, such as artists, galleries and collectors, whose generosity unlocks innovative funding of Sentebale programmes for the upliftment of youngsters in Lesotho and Botswana.”

The works on display in “Friend” will span decades and movements, featuring rare and historic pieces alongside new creations.

Highlights include:

• Frank Stella’s Blyvoors, 1982, from the acclaimed South African Mine series.
• Bridget Riley’s seminal black-and-white works, key to the Op Art movement.
• Tadaaki Kuwayama’s 1980s series, presented for the first time in 40 years.

Exhibited Artists:


Agnes Martin
Alana Dee Haynes
Bridget Riley
Dylan Rietz Cruz
Frank Stella
Jorge Luis Rodriguez
Rakuko Naito
Richard Hambleton
Sang Eun
Sono Kuwayama
Taiji Terasaki
Tadaaki Kuwayama

Exhibition Details:

Friend will run from Saturday, December 14 to Sunday, January 19
Ki Smith Gallery
170 Forsyth Street
New York, NY
Members of the public can visit kismithgallery.com to book a date.
Exhibition is free to visit, with an opportunity for a donation to Sentebale on site.

Special thanks to Mazzola Lindstrom LLP, Royal Salute and Farm to People for their support.

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About Sentebale

Sentebale works with children and young people and their communities to create sustainable solutions that address issues of health, wealth inequity, and climate resilience in the Southern African countries of Lesotho and Botswana.

The organization was founded by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex and HRH Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 as a response to the needs of children and young people in Lesotho and in memory of their late mothers. The name means ‘forget-me-not’ in the Sesotho language, representing a pledge to remember the most vulnerable children in the region.

Over the last eighteen years, Sentebale has developed solutions informed by children, their caregivers and the young people the organization serves, to address both systemic issues and individual needs of the moment. This work includes providing and enabling the care of young people living with HIV/AIDS, addressing mental health issues, career exploration and entrepreneurship, critical life skills and advocacy; and offering vocational training and education opportunities. Sentebale’s work has recently expanded into the regeneration of landscapes to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change on the natural resources that communities rely on. @Sentebale

About Ki Smith Gallery


Ki Smith Gallery opened its first location in 2018 in Harlem. In the subsequent years, Smith expanded and moved locations three times before settling in a multi-level exhibition space in the Lower East Side in 2022. Since moving, Ki Smith Gallery continues to work with rising contemporary artists and has expanded its program to include major collaborations with museums, NGOs, and record labels, notably hosting an exhibition of rare and some never before see Screen Tests by Andy Warhol, as well as putting on after-hours music performances featuring Grammy Award winning musicians. Smith is deeply dedicated to the arts and his contemporaries and works to create enduring relationships with artists and organizations.


Ki Smith Gallery was opened by native New Yorker Ki Smith, who at the age of 16 dropped out of school and began to work in local galleries. At 21, he co-founded Apostrophe NYC, which gained recognition for its innovative guerilla exhibitions at venues such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, MoMA PS1, and NYC subway stations. @kismithgallery | kismithgallery.com