COLUMBUS MUSEUM CONTINUES TO EXPAND AFRICAN AMERICAN HOLDINGS

COLUMBUS, GA – February 2, 2022 – Following from its commitment to reflect the communities of the Chattahoochee Valley, The Columbus Museum continues to augment its holdings of works by African American artists. The Museum’s recent Alma Thomas Society Annual Purchase Party resulted in the acquisition of two new works to its permanent collection.

Kenneth Moore (b. 1949)
The Night Before Sacred Truth, 2019
Acrylic on canvas, 30 x 24 in.
Courtesy of Frederick Holmes & Company, Seattle

The first work the group voted to purchase is Kenneth Moore’s The Night Before Sacred Truth, 2019. Moore was born in Chicago in 1949. As a young man, he studied briefly at the Art Institute of Chicago, but pursued career choices outside of the visual arts. Retirement afforded Moore the opportunity to concentrate full time on painting, though he worked more or less independently of the art world—until his first gallery show in 2019. His style combines aspects of cubism, surrealism, and expressionism, all while addressing cultural topics like jazz and African myths, or social issues, such as racism in the U.S. This new acquisition highlights an emerging African American artist and provides an inspiring example of one who has successfully pursued an artistic career later in life.

Albert Alexander Smith (1896–1940)
Puente de San Martín Bridge, Spain, 1926
Oil on canvas, 25 x 39 1/2 in.
Courtesy of Thom Pegg/Black Art Auction, St. Louis & Indianapolis

The Society’s second acquisition is Albert Alexander Smith’s Puente de San Martin Bridge, Spain, 1926. Smith was born in New York City in 1896, the only child of immigrants from Bermuda. He studied at the National Academy of Design in 1917 until WWI interrupted. After the war, he finished his studies before moving to Paris in 1920. During the 1920s and 1930s, Smith became internationally renowned and maintained a successful career in both music and the visual arts in Europe. He passed away tragically at the age of 44. This acquisition makes an exceptional addition to the Museum’s permanent collection and showcases an African American artist who found success outside the United States.

The Alma Thomas Society is a membership enhancement to support The Fund for African American Art. These dues-paying members not only help fund the Museum’s continuing efforts to acquire works by African American makers, both established and emerging artists, but they also vote every year on new art to add to the collection. This effort would not be possible without the Alma Thomas Society and Dan and Kathelen Amos, who in late 2014, provided a gift to start The Fund for African American Art. 

About The Columbus Museum: Founded in 1953, The Columbus Museum is one of the largest museums in the Southeast and is unique for its dual concentration on American art and regional history, displayed in its permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, and educational programs. The Museum strives to be a cultural leader, distinguishing itself through an approach that engages visitors, stimulates creativity, inspires critical thinking, sparks conversations, and brings art and history to life. www.columbusmuseum.com 

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