Miami-based collectors Jorge and Darlene Pérez have donated 36 works by 15 artists from Africa and the African diaspora to Tate. The gift includes photographs by Seydou Keïta, paintings by Cheri Samba, a hanging piece by El Anatsui, and works by Joy Labinjo, Wangechi Mutu, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Buhlebezwe Siwani, Bruce Onobrakpeya, and Gavin Jantjes. The donation also comes with a multi-million dollar endowment to support curatorial research on African and Latin American art, funding a dedicated curatorial post currently held by Osei Bonsu.
The donation matters because it significantly expands Tate’s holdings of modern and contemporary African and diaspora art, filling gaps in the collection—such as the absence of any works by Cheri Samba. It reflects a broader institutional effort to diversify art historical narratives and elevate artists who have been underrepresented in major museums. The Pérezes’ ongoing partnership with Tate, alongside their substantial support for the Pérez Art Museum Miami, underscores the growing influence of private collectors in shaping museum collections and curatorial priorities.