During this talk, dive into the history of African American art and how race is reflected in artistic and collecting practices.

Moderated by Anne Cross, Museums graduate research assistant and doctoral candidate in the Department of Art History, the conversation will feature Jessica Bell Brown, a Ph.D. candidate at Princeton University, and Daniella Rose King, Whitney-Lauder Curatorial Fellow, Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania.  

The themes discussed will relate to those on view in the Mechanical Hall Gallery exhibition, Collecting as Activism: African American Art and the Legacy of Paul R. Jones.

A collector and philanthropist, Paul R. Jones (1928-2010) began collecting art in the 1960s, focusing on acquiring works by African American and African diaspora artists—artists, at the time, who were often marginalized and excluded from major museum collections. Through artworks from his collection, the exhibition invites visitors to ask questions surrounding diversity, inclusion, and visibility in art museums, as well as the role of collectors in supporting underrepresented artists.

A reception will follow the talk at 6 p.m. The gallery will be open from 4-8 p.m.

This event is supported by the College of Arts and Sciences, Paul R. Jones Initiative.