Opening Reception: Tradition Redefined: The Larry and Brenda Thompson Collection of African American Art
Opening Reception: Tradition Redefined: The Larry and Brenda Thompson Collection of African American Art
Larry and Brenda Thompson have amassed a remarkable collection of art by African Americans from around the nation. The strength of the Thompson’s collecting process lies in their considered attention to artists who have typically not been recognized in the traditional narratives of African American art. In addition to the acknowledged “masters,” the Thompsons have collected works by artists who have been labeled “emerging,” “unknown,” “outsider,” “eccentric,” “vernacular,” “regional” and more. The result is a collection that redefines the landscape of American art, offering a more in-depth, inclusive understanding of African American artists and their aesthetic and social concerns. The Thompsons have not only identified and supported artists inside and outside of the canon, but they have also cultivated meaningful relationships with a variety of artists and their families that have lasted decades. The fruits of these relationships are highlighted in the exhibition Tradition Redefined: The Larry and Brenda Thompson Collection of African American Art.