Point of View: Contemporary African American Art from the Elliot and Kimberly Perry Collection

Point of View: Contemporary African American Art from the Elliot and Kimberly Perry Collection explores American identity and culture through the art of some of the most innovative and compelling artists working in the 21st century.  This exhibition, featuring 36 African American artists and 3 artists of the African Diaspora, demonstrates that contemporary art is not defined by a single style, medium, or approach, but rather by its diversity and complexity. Working on the cutting edge in a variety of media—including painting, photography, collage, sculpture, prints, and video—the artists in this collection place an emphasis on today’s issues, creating a dialogue and expanding the discourse of African American art.  These artists not only have a shared interest in the concerns of their predecessors, including racism, poverty, segregation, and social injustice, but also relate their works to today’s society and address themes of masculinity/femininity, identity, and diversity.

Elliot Perry, former NBA player and Memphis native, and his wife Kimberly started to collect mid- to late 20th-century African American art in 1996, seeing it as an opportunity to preserve their heritage and history. In subsequent years, they turned their focus to collecting contemporary art, with the intention to cultivate relationships with the artists themselves. According to Elliot Perry, who has said his passion for art has now rivaled his love for basketball, "This collection tackles so many different issues. It shows the rich heritage of African American people in so many diverse ways.” Through this collection, the Perrys hope to foster an educational experience that is also transformative as viewers learn, interpret, and grapple with the works of art.