Memories & Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art

February 4–May 14, 2023 | Fifth Third Gallery

Memories & Inspiration features selections from the private collection of Kerry and C. Betty Davis. For over 35 years, Mr. Davis, a retired postal worker, and Mrs. Davis, a former television news producer, have collected with a focus on diverse 20th- and 21st-century approaches to the Black image. According to Mr. Davis, “Our goal is to preserve cultural memories and provide the community with a source of inspiration.” The exhibition features approximately 60 works of art, including paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and mixed media by well-known African American artists Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Sam Gilliam, Loïs Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawrence, Gordon Parks, Alma Thomas, and others.

Organized and toured by International Art & Artists, Washington, DC, Memories & Inspiration provides an example of a private collection formed by a singular vision. The Davis residence has been called “a museum in a home,” offering an enlightening comparison to Charles and Anna Taft’s own collection. The Davises’ collection reveals their hopes and passions, infusing Memories & Inspiration with tremendous personal power.