June with Timbucktoo: Art, Culture, and Legacy in Motion

From NY Tech Week to The Met, Juneteenth celebrations to artful dinners in Philly. June was filled with connection, storytelling, and milestones. Catch up on what we built together.

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Jul 08, 2025

NY Tech Week: Where Art and Innovation Met

Every June, NY Tech Week turns the city into a magnet for founders, investors, and thinkers shaping the future. We saw an opportunity to bring something unique to the conversation.

So, instead of pitching in a conference room, we hosted Art Unwine’d, our signature experience blending fine art, connection, and conversation. More than 100 professionals gathered in one space — artists, engineers, designers, investors, and dreamers — to learn how Timbucktoo is using technology to reimagine what art collecting can be.

We also highlighted the brilliant work of Katarra Peterson, whose presence added a grounding energy to the room. Her story and work remind us that art is not just something to admire. It is something to understand, collect, and pass on.

If you missed our past interview with Katarra, you can check it out here.

TxO Demo Day: A Full Circle Moment

Last fall, we joined the TxO program from Andreessen Horowitz, a fund that backs founders who are shifting culture and building companies with lasting impact.

In June, we returned to celebrate the latest cohort at TxO Demo Day. We watched five founders take the stage and share their visions. It reminded us of our own journey and how far we have come. Being in that room again was a full circle moment — one rooted in growth, gratitude, and the responsibility to keep going.

Collector's Lens: Yemi Adewunmi

This month, we turned the spotlight on Yemi Adewunmi — an artist, a collector, and now an advisor helping others find their way in the art world. Yemi's story is rich with intention, care, and personal transformation.

Whether you are just beginning to collect or deepening your understanding of art, her journey offers something for everyone.
Watch her interview or read her story here.

Juneteenth at the African American Museum

To mark Juneteenth, we invited a group of Tastemakers to the African American Museum in Philadelphia, where we were given a private tour by one of our own — Morgan Lloyd, the museum's Programming Coordinator and a valued voice in our community.

She guided us through Demond Melancon: As Any Means Are Necessary, an exhibit celebrating the Black Masking culture of New Orleans. For our cofounder Derek Gauthier, a proud New Orleanian, this experience was deeply personal. It was a celebration of resilience, heritage, and artistry that has spanned generations.

Art Unwine’d in Philadelphia: A Legacy Gathering

Katarra Peterson joined us again for our Philadelphia edition of Art Unwine’d, this time hosted at The Saints — a stunning new restaurant in Rittenhouse Square that brings the flavors of West Africa to life.

This event continued the spirit of Juneteenth, centering around the theme of legacy through Black art. We featured conversations with Katarra, Morgan Lloyd, and Devon Horace, a passionate collector committed to making art more accessible.

Over 40 guests gathered in this beautiful space for an evening that was equal parts soul, story, and celebration.

The Met Visit: Black Style in Full Expression

To close out the month, we took 20 Tastemakers to The Metropolitan Museum of Art to see Superfine: Tailoring Black Style — an exhibition that explores the long history of fashion, identity, and resistance within the Black experience.

Known informally as the "Black Dandy" exhibit, this theme helped spark the most successful Met Gala to date in terms of fundraising. Inspired by the exhibit, our group came dressed in elevated looks — and throughout the day, museum guests stopped us, asked questions, and celebrated our presence.

This visit reminded us that art is not limited to walls. It lives in how we dress, how we gather, and how we carry our culture forward.

Welcoming Our Summer Intern

Please meet Isaiah Tinsley Cobbs, our summer intern and a rising senior majoring in computer science. A Philadelphia native with a passion for photography and a hunger to learn, Isaiah is contributing to the development of our technology and may also be capturing moments at future Timbucktoo events.

We are excited to have him on the team.

Upcoming Experiences

July 9 – Art Unwine’d Wednesday in Brooklyn.
July 23 – Art Unwine’d Wednesday in Philadelphia.
Coming Soon – Whitney Museum visit to see Amy Sherald’s "American Sublime"

Announcing the Timbucktoo Collector's Club

We are preparing to launch something new and intentional — the Timbucktoo Collector's Club, a membership designed for those who want to grow in their art journey with us.

This is more than a club. It is a community built around personalized art discovery, private gatherings, collector guidance, and cultural insight.

We are now accepting interest for Founding Members.

If you want to be considered, email us at info@thetimbucktoo.com with "Collector's Club" in the subject line — or create an account on our platform and let us know through the onboarding form.