Collecting African American Art with Kerry Davis

Collecting African American Art with Kerry Davis

Collecting African American Art with Kerry Davis is presented by the Cleveland Foundation and will be held at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve on Saturday, October 12, from 1-3pm.

In this illustrated lecture, Kerry Davis describes his 30-year journey collecting African American art with his wife C. Betty Davis, and how they built their world-class collection using only modest middle-class means.  

As Kerry describes, “I want to share how I started- working as a postman and my wife as a television director/producer. Through our partnership we managed to acquire major and unseen artists. You don’t have to be wealthy or an art student to appreciate art- there are different ways to collect… I want to share some of my steps and fortunate encounters as I followed my passion.” This 45-minute presentation will explore Kerry’s unique approach to collecting and trace how a desire to decorate his suburban home transformed into a pursuit that shaped his family’s lives.

Kerry will share his methods of selecting artists and works as well as the “significance of why” he collects art and feels it is so important to tell his story. The program will conclude with Kerry describing his interactions with artists he has “had the pleasure of working with over the years,” sharing memorable experiences, and commenting on his most prized works.

Collecting African American Art is FREE, however, please register to attend as there is limited seating.  Reserve your spot by visiting www.artistsarchives.org or by calling 216.721.9020