SIMON FREDERICK AND CARLOS SIMON PRESENT “THE UNSPOKEN ELEGANCE OF STILLNESS” — A LOVE LETTER TO BLACK WOMEN
Internationally acclaimed artist and filmmaker Simon Frederick joins GRAMMY-nominated composer Carlos Simon and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for the U.S. premiere of The Unspoken Elegance of Stillness: A Love Letter to Black Women. Taking place at Heinz Hall on Saturday, 8 November, the performance serves as the centrepiece of the AFRICANISM Gala 2025, presented by […]
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Internationally acclaimed artist and filmmaker Simon Frederick joins GRAMMY-nominated composer Carlos Simon and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for the U.S. premiere of The Unspoken Elegance of Stillness: A Love Letter to Black Women.
Taking place at Heinz Hall on Saturday, 8 November, the performance serves as the centrepiece of the AFRICANISM Gala 2025, presented by FashionAFRICANA. The premiere will unite film, orchestral music, and fine art in a groundbreaking collaboration that celebrates the beauty, strength, and cultural legacy of Black women around the world.
“This work is my love letter to the women who carried entire generations on their backs,” said Simon Frederick. “Through this work I wanted to reframe how Black women see and feel about themselves, not as muses or subjects, but as the architects of our culture. Every frame, every note, every image is a hymn to their grace.”
The original score, composed by Carlos Simon, will be performed live by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as Frederick’s cinematic visuals unfold on screen.
“Composing for this work was special to me, because—yeah, Black women!” said Carlos Simon. “Their beauty, their resilience; they are absolutely everything and deserve all their flowers. I wouldn’t be the man I am without the love, nurturing, and support of the Black women in my life. This work is more than a film or a symphony —it’s a love letter that I hope will be celebrated and performed for years to come.”
Celebrated as “the Met Gala of Pittsburgh,” the AFRICANISM Gala will also honor recipients of the 2025 AFRICANA Icon Awards, including Olympic and WNBA champion Swin Cash and international model and cultural ambassador Fatou Jobe, alongside additional honorees to be announced.
Frederick’s practice has redefined how Black identity is represented across art and media. His portrait series Black Is the New Black became the largest acquisition of contemporary Black Britons in the National Portrait Gallery’s history. His television series They’ve Gotta Have Us, Black Is the New Black, and The Outsiders have reached global audiences on Netflix, BBC, and YouTube Originals, and he was recently named among Britain’s 100 Most Influential Black People.
The Unspoken Elegance of Stillness marks Frederick’s return to large-scale installation work, merging fine art, film, and orchestral performance into an immersive experience that transcends traditional storytelling.
“This piece isn’t just about representation,” Frederick added. “It’s about reverence— about giving Black women the stage, the light, and the sound they have always deserved.”
The Unspoken Elegance of Stillness takes place November 8th at Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh, USA. Find out more here.
