Miami-based art collectors Jorge and Darlene Pérez have made a significant contribution to London's Tate museum by donating 36 works by 15 artists from Africa and the African diaspora. This generous donation is part of an ongoing partnership between the Miami couple and the prestigious UK institution, furthering Tate's mission to diversify its collection and reshape art historical narratives.
The donated collection includes several notable pieces that highlight the richness of African and diaspora art. Among the most significant works are seven photographs by renowned Malian artist Seydou Keïta, three paintings by Congolese artist Cheri Samba, and a 1986 wooden plank hanging piece by Ghanaian artist El Anatsui. These acquisitions represent both contemporary cutting-edge work and pieces rooted in established histories of African art.
Osei Bonsu, the curator of Nigerian Modernism at Tate Modern, emphasized the importance of this donation in transforming the museum's approach to art history. "The acquisition furthers the ambition that Tate has of really changing art historical dialogue. It definitely represents a shift," Bonsu explained. He noted that these artists' unique position at the forefront of contemporary art while remaining connected to traditional African art histories provided Tate with an opportunity to broaden its existing holdings.
Several of the acquisitions fill critical gaps in Tate's collection. The museum previously owned no works by Cheri Samba, whom Bonsu describes as "an extraordinary artist who is overdue institutional recognition." The donated Samba works include "Jaime la Couleur" (2004) and "Live Dans les Sous-Sols du Rex" (1982), both significant examples of the artist's distinctive style.
Seydou Keïta's photographs represent another crucial addition to the collection. Known for photographing a diverse range of clients at his studio in Bamako, Mali, Keïta captured his subjects in works such as "Untitled, Boy with Bicycle" (1949-51) and "Untitled (Man)" (1952-75). According to Bonsu, when Keïta's works appear at auction, "it takes eagle eyed collectors to recognize that these examples of studio photography are rare social documents of African life during the post-colonial period."
The donation also includes several contemporary works that address current social issues. Joy Labinjo's "The Real Thugs of Britain" (2020) depicts three police officers, including former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, against a luminous yellow background. While Labinjo is traditionally known for her intimate, celebratory portraits of Black subjects, this work turns her attention to white authority figures as a way to confront systemic racism, according to a Tate statement.
Other significant works in the donation include Wangechi Mutu's two-part collage "You pretty, no you pretty" (2008), Rotimi Fani-Kayode's "Twins" (1989) - a black-and-white gelatin silver print of two male twins, and "Batsho bancama" (2017), a sculptural installation by Johannesburg-born Buhlebezwe Siwani made from green soap and rose petals. The gift also encompasses three works by Nigerian printmaker Bruce Onobrakpeya and a pair of works on paper by Kenyan-US artist Wangechi Mutu.
The Pérezes began collecting African art approximately 15 years ago, driven by a belief in the importance of greater exposure for underrepresented artists. "This is very important for us. We feel that artists from the African continent, the Sub-Saharan in particular, and Latin America, have not been exposed at the level that they should be," Jorge Pérez explained.
Beyond the artwork donation, the Pérezes have established a multi-million dollar endowment to support Tate's curatorial research, specifically funding curatorial positions dedicated to African and Latin American art. This funding enabled the appointment of Osei Bonsu as the Jorge M. Pérez senior curator, international art, Africa and Diaspora, demonstrating the couple's commitment to long-term institutional change.
The Pérezes' relationship with Tate extends beyond African art. Earlier this year, they donated a major work by blue-chip Abstract Expressionist artist Joan Mitchell titled "Iva" (1973). Jorge Pérez expressed their deep appreciation for the institution, stating, "We've always loved the Tate. Our three favorite non-Miami museums are the Tate, MoMA [Museum of Modern Art in New York] and the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid."
The couple's philanthropic influence extends significantly into their home city's cultural landscape. They are major contributors to Miami's art scene, having donated at least $60 million to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). The museum was controversially renamed following Jorge Pérez's $40 million donation in both cash and artwork in 2011, with the couple contributing an additional $25 million in 2023. Jorge Pérez founded the real estate development company The Related Group in 1979, and Forbes currently estimates his net worth at $2.6 billion, enabling his substantial contributions to the arts worldwide.
