MFA Boston to Acquire Important Collection of African American Art

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has acquired 67 works of African American art from the collector and MFA Honorary overseer, John Axelrod. The purchase of such works now makes the MFA Boston one of the premier repositories of African American art in the United States. In addition, Axelrod has also given funds for scholarship and donated his research library on African American art to the museum. 

According to the Boston Globe, Axelrod is selling the works to the MFA at below market values, between $5 million and $10 million total.

This purchase greatly strengthens the Museum's American art holdings, and seven of the newly purchased works are now only display in the Art of the Americas Wing. The display marks the one-year anniversary of the establishment of the Wing. The acquisition also demonstrates the Museum's commitment to diversifying its collection, showcasing multicultural artistry throughout the Americas.

The works, which date from the 19th century to present day, include pieces by artists such as Romare Bearden, Hale Woodruff, Aaron Douglass, and Archibald Motely.

Elliot Bostwick Davis, the John Moors Cabot Chair of the Art of the Americas Department, states, "John’s discerning eye has enabled him to assemble a remarkable collection of works in a range of media by some of the greatest African American artists of the past 150 years.  I’m delighted that we can begin to display them as the Museum celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Art of the Americas Wing."

(Report: Alisa Alexander for ARTFIXdaily)