The Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art is pleased to present the PFF Collection Tribeca Showcase.
Collection Updates
Shifting Time: African American Artists 2020-2021
A book that explores how over 70 contemporary African American artists responded to the emotional and cultural challenges presented by the COVID pandemic and social justice movements over the 18-month period between March 2020 and July 2021.
Another American’s Autobiography: Selections from the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art
The public is invited to enjoy a new exhibition: Another American’s Autobiography: Selections from the Petrucci Family Foundation’s Collection of African American Art.
Black Majesty: The Uplifting Art of Otto Neals
Otto Neals is a self-taught artist whose natural talents were matched by years of hard work. He has used a range of materials throughout his career, including watercolor, oil, pastels, mixed media collage, as well as clay, bronze, wood, and stone sculptures.
New Acquisitions
We’ve been steadily collecting new artwork over the past year and a half from a range of emerging and established artists, including June Edmonds, Kohshin Finley, Otto Neals, Charles Searles, YoYo Lander, Michael Kelly Williams, Greg Breda, Carl “Dingbat Smith”, Henry Bannarn, and more. Browse some of these acquisitions here.
Symbolism in the Art of Frederick D. Jones
In Frederick D. Jones’ untitled painting, a woman stands alone in a barren landscape—the sky is dark and ominous, and flags billow in the harsh winds from the stormy waters behind her. Yet, dressed in yellow, she is a beacon of light, a vision of peace and purity. She looks down at her hands where she […]
Feeding the Veins of the Earth (Grounded Angel)
This past year, we purchased Dr. Imo Nse Imeh’s piece, “Feeding the Veins of the Earth (Grounded Angel),” which is part of his “Benediction” series. This group of paintings envisions angels sent to Earth to be bonded to the skins of Black men and boys to bear witness to their traumas, triumphs, and lived experiences. Imeh graciously volunteered to share his reflections on this work and the conditions that brought it to bear.
Ralph Chessé: Self-Taught Artist and Puppeteer
Ralph Chessé is a self-taught artist who focused on painting, printmaking, theatre, and puppetry. His work has been exhibited at the Gildea Gallery, the Lucien Labaudt Gallery in San Francisco, the Duncan Gallery in New York, and the Marc Antony Gallery in New Orleans.
Collection Spotlight: Chawne Kimber
Dr. Chawne Kimber is a mathematician, wordsmith, and quilter who we’ve been fortunate to get to know during her tenure as head of the mathematics department at Lafayette College.
Her pieces make us reconsider the art world’s dated distinctions between “craft” and “high art” in relation to quilts and textiles.
New PFF Loan: “Creating Community: Cinque Gallery Artists”
There are a handful of people who have devoted their careers to the preservation and celebration of African American art history. One of the greatest championing voices behind this work is Susan Stedman, guest curator of “Creating Community: Cinque Gallery Artists” at the Arts Students League of New York. As the art world’s interest in […]
In Memory of Winfred Rembert
We recently received the sad news of Winfred Rembert’s passing. While we did not have the pleasure of meeting him in person, his masterful artworks and life-long commitment to depicting his experiences in the Jim Crow South made a significant impact on us. Winfred Rembert’s life was extraordinarily tough. He spent the ‘40s and ‘50s […]
The Meticulous Improvisational Art of Carl Richard “Dingbat” Smith
In spite of a global pandemic, we have been fortunate to be able to continue to grow our collection this past year. We feel particularly lucky two have acquired two pieces from the magnificent artist, Carl Richard “Dingbat” Smith, whose work was introduced to us by our friend, consultant, and fellow collector, Lewis Tanner Moore. […]