Prominent Miami art collector Jorge M. Pérez has donated more than 80 photographic works to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), featuring pieces by renowned modern and contemporary artists including Thomas Ruff, Ana Mendieta, Cindy Sherman, and Isaac Julien. The significant donation represents a major addition to the museum's photography collection and underscores Pérez's continued commitment to supporting the institution that bears his name.

The donated works are currently featured in the exhibition "Language and Image: Conceptual and Performance-Based Photography from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection," which opened in May and runs until January 11. Museum Director Franklin Sirmans explained that while the importance of the works had been discussed extensively, the museum wasn't certain the pieces would become a permanent gift. "Although we had discussed the importance of the works, we didn't know that it was definitely going to be a gift; we were hopeful as we had discussed how to compliment the works we already had in the collection of photography and these specific artists," Sirmans told The Art Newspaper.

Photography has been a cornerstone of PAMM's collection since the museum became a collecting institution in 1996. The new donation strengthens several key areas of the collection, particularly the representation of the Düsseldorf School of Photography through works by artists like Thomas Ruff and Candida Höfer. Notable additions include Isaac Julien's "Emerald City/Capital (Playtime)" from 2013, along with three works by Brazilian-born artist Vik Muniz.

The conceptual nature of many donated works opens new possibilities for the museum's engagement with contemporary media. "A good thing about the conceptual nature of much of this work is that it also allows us to think about photography as a medium that has so much life in terms of moving imagery and also how we consider the digital prospects within the museum," Sirmans noted. "It'll be interesting to be able to add this [donation] to the conversation."

Among the significant pieces entering the collection are "El Cuerpo del Silencio" (The Body of Silence), a photograph documenting a performance by Cuban artist Tania Bruguera from 1997-98, and "Untitled (Barulho de fundo)" (Untitled [Background Noise]) from 2005-06, a series of gelatin silver prints by Brazilian artist Renata Lucas. The donation also includes candid portraits from American artist Philip-Lorca diCorcia's acclaimed "Heads" series and "Tree Filling Window" (2002) by Wolfgang Tillmans.

The donation aligns with PAMM's mission to showcase art from Latin America and the Caribbean while exploring connections to the African diaspora. "We want to be the best at presenting the work of Latin America and the Caribbean, looking towards the African diaspora. Jorge has provided the blueprint in many ways since he donated the first big gift of Latin American art in 2011," Sirmans emphasized.

Jorge Pérez and his wife Darlene are major forces in Miami's art scene, having contributed at least $60 million to the Pérez Art Museum Miami. The museum was controversially renamed following Pérez's transformative $40 million donation in 2011, which included both cash and artworks. The couple further demonstrated their commitment with an additional $25 million donation in 2023. In 2019, Jorge Pérez expanded his cultural footprint by opening El Espacio 23, a nonprofit art space in Miami's Allapattah neighborhood dedicated to displaying works from the couple's extensive collection.

Pérez built his fortune through real estate development, founding The Related Group in 1979. Forbes currently estimates his net worth at $2.6 billion, making him one of the most influential philanthropists in the art world. When asked about criticism regarding Pérez's influential role at the museum, Sirmans defended the relationship: "I don't understand the criticism; Jorge has set an incredible example of generosity and patronage for hopefully others to exemplify. What he has done in partnership with his team and our curators is about what it means to lead. He's a leader in this [philanthropic] conversation and wants to be a leader in this conversation."

The Pérezes' philanthropic reach extends beyond Miami, with recent donations including 36 works by 15 artists from Africa and the African diaspora to London's Tate institution as part of an ongoing partnership. The couple has also funded a multi-million dollar endowment to support Tate's curatorial research, specifically funding curatorial positions dedicated to African and Latin American art. This international approach reflects their broader vision of supporting diverse artistic voices and strengthening cultural institutions worldwide.