Sheryl Adkins-Green and Geoff Green
Kaloki Nyamai's Father and Son, 2021
DALLAS, TEXAS–This couple began their collecting journey while on vacation in Maui. The jazz lovers acquired a limited-edition print of a Miles Davis canvas and were surprised to learn the musician was a prolific painter. Twenty-two years later, their art pursuit focuses on diversity and emphasizes the African-American experience, from historic figures to important voices today. “We gravitate towards confident, life-affirming images, and each work of art has a lot to say,” Geoff says. Artists in the collection include Deborah Roberts, Derek Fordjour, Knowledge Bennett, and James Van Der Zee. One notable work is House Party on Narrow Street by Jammie Holmes (Art in America’s November 2021 cover artist), which, Geoff says, “celebrates the simplicity of a great house party, where all you needed was a good stack of records and some cold beverages.”
ART:
Deborah Roberts, Derek Fordjour, Knowledge Bennett, James Van Der Zee, Jammie Holmes, Carrie Mae Weems, Wadsworth Jarrell, Derrick Adams, Jessica Vaughn, February James, Hannah Whitaker
CV:
Twenty-two years ago while on vacation, they started their journey via a limited-edition print from jazz musician Miles Davis; now their collection focuses on important contemporary trailblazers, historic figures, and the young voices of today who call attention to the African-American experience.
Q&A:
PC: How your collecting journey has changed in recent years.
Green: Our collecting journey has become more grounded in relationships. While art is a visual experience, it’s the conversations with or about the artists that now inspire our selections. Our vision for our collection has remained consistent over the years. We acquire works that commemorate resilience and relationships and works that celebrate confidence and community.
PC: Artworks that are particularly emblematic of your collection.
Green: The work Father and Son by Kaloki Nyamai is a reflection on familial structures and community. It captures a shared moment of understanding between and father and son, when no words are needed. House Party on Narrow Street by Jammie Holmes celebrates the simplicity of a great house party, where all you needed was a good stack of records and some cold beverages.
PC: Arts nonprofits in Texas you support whose mission resonates with you.
Green: We support arts institutions in the DFW metroplex, including the Dallas Contemporary, the Dallas Museum of art and the African American Museum.
