Guests gathered at the Parrish Art Museum for a special tour led by curator, Christine Y. Kim, exploring exhibitions by Shirin Neshat, Raven Halfmoon, and Sean Scully. The visit concluded with an exclusive viewing of Trustee Glenn Fuhrman’s private art collection.
Category: Our news
TATE AMERICAS FOUNDATION SUMMER HAMPTONS 2025 PROGRAM
Celebrating 20 Year Anniversaries of the Latin American Acquisitions Committee and North American Acquisitions Committee
Over 20 years ago, Tate created region specific acquisitions committees to enhance the Tate collection and to represent an integrated view of global art history for Tate audiences. In 2001, the Tate Americas Foundation formed the North American Acquisitions Committee and then shortly after in 2002, with the leadership and guidance of Tiqui Atencio Demirdjian, they founded the Latin American Acquisition Committee. In those twenty years, there have been 395 works acquired from 146 Latin American artists and 219 works from 102 North American artists. We will be celebrating the incredible contributions of these committees throughout the fall.
Tate now has a family of dedicated Acquisitions Committees which play a key role in this process of diversifying Tate’s collection. At times, these Committees may also choose to jointly support works of art to bring key pieces into Tate’s collection. These groups have proved extremely successful in championing Tate’s activities relating to specific regions or media by: broadening Tate’s scope of international activities; forging stronger relationships and dialogue with local individuals and institutions; and in creating in-depth holdings for important artists and themes.
These committees contribute invaluable expertise and support towards strengthening Tate representation of art and to develop and integrate alternative narratives within the chronology of art.
CHRISTINE Y. KIM APPOINTED BRITTON FAMILY CURATOR-AT-LARGE (NORTH AMERICAN ART)
Tate Modern today announces Christine Y. Kim in the newly created position of Britton Family Curator-at-Large (North American Art). Based in Los Angeles and New York, her role will focus on the development of North American art in Tate’s collection through new research and acquisitions. Kim will start in January 2022.
Since 2009 Kim has been a curator of Contemporary Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), organising monographic exhibitions such as Julie Mehretu (2019-22), Isaac Julien: Playtime (2019), Diana Thater: The Sympathetic Imagination (2015-16), and James Turrell: A Retrospective (2013-14), along with group and permanent collection exhibitions. Most recently, she curated Black American Portraits (2021-22), covering two centuries of African American portraiture, coinciding with The Obama PortraitsTour (2021-22). During her tenure, Kim has been instrumental in expanding and diversifying LACMA’s collection, exhibitions, and programmes, and in developing new models for equity and inclusion across the institution. She sits on boards of non-profits such as GYOPO, Denniston Hill, Los Angeles Nomadic Division (LAND), and Museums Moving Forward (MMF). Kim is a 2022 Center for Curatorial Leadership (CCL) Fellow.
Before joining LACMA, Kim worked at the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, where she co-curated Freestyle (2001) with Thelma Golden, launching the groundbreaking “F” series of exhibitions. Black Belt (2003) included works of art by African American and Asian American artists such as David Diao, David Hammons, and Arthur Jafa in the context of 1970s popular culture and martial arts. Kim is responsible for putting artists such as Wangechi Mutu, Mickalene Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye in their first US museum exhibitions. Holding an MA from New York University, Gallatin School of Individualized Study in American Studies and Critical Theory, and a BA in Art History and French from Connecticut College, New London, Kim has contributed to multiple publications and guest-curated international exhibitions including The Ends: The Politics of Participation in the Post-Internet Age 2018 at the 12th Gwangju Biennial, South Korea.
As Britton Family Curator-at-Large, Kim will play a significant role in acquiring North American works for the Tate collection. Supported by the Britton Family Foundation, this position will continue to broaden Tate’s approaches to modern and contemporary art, forge new relationships with artists, scholars, and curators in the region, and contribute to curating exhibitions and projects at Tate. Kim will work closely with the Director of Collections (International Art), the Tate Americas Foundation and the North American Acquisitions Committee, as part of Tate’s wider network of specialist Adjunct Curators based in other regions around the world.
Christine Y. Kim said: “After twelve incredible years at LACMA, I am thrilled to bring my expertise in collection-building, focusing on works of art by living artists of colour, to a national and Canadian scope, to share on an expanded, global scale at Tate.”
Gregor Muir, Director of Collections, International Art at Tate said: “Christine is a hugely talented and experienced curator, with a reputation for showcasing the incredible diversity of North American contemporary art. I’m delighted that she’ll be joining the team in this role. As an American living in the United States, Christine will also bring on-the-ground expertise to Tate’s activities in the region.”
Paul Britton Chairman of the Tate Americas Foundation said: “The Britton Family Foundation is pleased to support this new position as a part of its commitment to expanding the voices of North American artists in Tate Collection. Christine Y. Kim brings distinguished experience to Tate and will be an enormous asset in Tate’s charge of being artistically adventurous and culturally inclusive.”
GIFT OF WORK OF ART TO TATE AMERICAS FOUNDATION
The Tate Americas Foundation is pleased to announce Remain, Thriving, 2018 by Njideka Akunyili Crosby has been gifted by Sukey and Michael Novogratz. Njideka Akunyili Crosby draws on historical, political and personal references to create densely layered figurative paintings. Characterized by their distinctive style, her works conjure the complexity of global African identity, as well as contemporary experiences of diaspora and cosmopolitanism.
Remain, Thriving, was the first in a series of new works commissioned by Art on the Underground for Brixton Station. Inspired by Brixton’s rich history of public murals, artists are invited to respond to the area’s diverse narratives, as well as the wider social and political history of mural making. In order to anchor her new work in Brixton, a heartland of London’s cosmopolitan diaspora, Akunyili Crosby spent time speaking to members of the local community, as well as archivists at the Black Cultural Archives and the Lambeth Archives. While making the painting, Akunyili Crosby considered the local constituents who travel through the station everyday, who may even recognize familiar people and places in the work. The collaged elements of the painting include archival images of local landmarks. The paintings hopeful title, Remain, Thriving, refers to the communities who, despite political and economic hardships, have remained vital to Brixton’s social fabric.
PAUL BRITTON ELECTED CHAIR AND BOB RENNIE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF TATE AMERICAS FOUNDATION
The Tate Americas Foundation Board of Trustees today announced that from May 5, 2020 Paul Britton has been elected Chair and Bob Rennie will be President of the Board. Paul Britton succeeds Pamela Joyner who has been Chair of the Board since 2017.
Maria Balshaw, Director of Tate said, “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Paul Britton and Bob Rennie to further our vision to be an artistically adventurous and culturally inclusive, global art institution. Their demonstrated interest in the arts combined with impressive records of business achievement, and a long-term commitment to Tate Americas Foundation, make them outstanding choices for these roles.
I would like to thank Pamela Joyner for her tireless leadership since 2017, not least for creating a new business model for Tate Americas Foundation, expanding its Board of Trustees and broadening the acquisition of works by North and Latin American artists for Tate’s collection.”
Paul Britton has been a supporter of Tate for years and became a Trustee of the Tate Americas Foundation in 2015. He is currently a member of the Executive Committee and Chairs the Investment Committee. “Throughout my involvement with Tate, I have found it to be intellectually exciting. Support from the Americas is critical to maintaining its position of prominence among global art museums.” said Paul Britton. “It is an honor to be provided this opportunity to work more closely with and for Tate, and it will undoubtedly present both a challenge and enormous opportunity at this unique moment and in the months and years to come.”
Bob Rennie was elected to the new position of President of the Board of Trustees. He has been a trustee since 2018, after chairing the North American Acquisitions Committee from 2009 to 2016. Bob Rennie said, “What a privilege, to work closely with the Tate Americas Foundation Board and Tate leadership and curators. I am really looking forward to expanding the Tate platform and turning up the volume of artists voices in our new world, which I see as an important mission for art institutions. Tate is a very special institution, with its already earned worldly voice steeped in art history, and now Tate has an opportunity to create new art history as we get to the other side of today’s challenges.”
Catherine Carver Dunn, Executive Director of the Tate Americas Foundation said: “There is no doubt that Paul Britton and Bob Rennie will be visionary leaders for the Foundation.”
PAUL BRITTON
Paul Britton is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Capstone Investment Advisors responsible for running the overall strategy and direction of the firm. Capstone is a volatility based hedge fund which oversees nearly $7 billion based in New York with 5 offices around the world with 160 staff. Mr. Britton grew up in London, England and moved to New York in 2000 and started Capstone in 2004. He currently serves on the Boards of the US Soccer Foundation, Friends Seminary and the Tate Americas Foundation. Paul and Laurel Britton started the Britton Family foundation in 2015 to support a variety of global causes.
BOB RENNIE
Bob Rennie founded the rennie group in 1975. The rennie group advises and offers data based risk management to the development industry. In 2009, Rennie opened the rennie museum in the oldest structure in Vancouver’s Chinatown to display works drawn from a collection with strong focus on issues of identity, social injustice, and commentary, and the nature of painting, photography, and appropriation. Rotating monographic and thematic exhibitions accompanied by catalogues are open free to the public, as are speaker series and innovative education and internship programs. Bob’s deep commitment to supporting both emerging and established artists has created a collection of over 2,000 artworks by more than 400 artists, with approximately 50 artists collected in depth spanning their career.
A recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award (2004), an Honorary Doctorate from Emily Carr University of Art and Design (2008), and the Order of British Columbia (2014), Bob was Chair of Tate’s North American Acquisition Committee and a member of Tate’s International Council Executive Committee. He currently serves as a Trustee of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2017, Mr. Rennie made one of the largest donations of contemporary art received by the National Gallery of Canada in recognition of the nation’s 150th birthday.
Abigail Baratta and Eugenia Braniff join the Tate Americas Foundation Board
Abigail Baratta (New York) and Eugenia Braniff (Mexico City) have joined the Tate Americas Foundation Board adding great new insight and leadership.
Abigail Baratta first became involved with Tate in 2008 and has been active since through the Tate Foundation Board, the North American Acquisitions Committee, and support of Tate Modern 2 and Steve McQueen Year 3.
Eugenia Braniff was the Artistic Director at Estancia FEMSA, a cultural and artistic platform hosted by Casa Luis Barragan with the support of FEMSA Collection. Braniff is a former sales associate at David Zwirner, a member of the Guggenheim Latin American Circle, and the Storefront for Art and Architecture.
WENDY FISHER AND KIM SHIRLEY JOIN THE TATE AMERICAS FOUNDATION BOARD
Wendy Fisher (New York, London and South Africa) and Kim Shirley (Seattle) have joined the Tate Americas Foundation Board adding great new insight and leadership.
Wendy Fisher has been a member of the Tate International Council since 2009, a member of the African Acquisitions Committee since 2011, a North American Acquisitions Committee member from 2013 – 2017, and an acquisitions supporter for works by Yinka Shonibare, Glenn Ligon, Mikhael Subotsky, Zanele Muholi, Sarah Lucas, Steve McQueen, William Kentridge, Lisa Brice, Chris Martin, and others. Fisher has also supported the Marlene Dumas exhibition at Tate Modern and the Chris Ofili exhibition at Tate Britain. Fisher is President of the Board of Trustees of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, founder of A4 Arts Foundation, and serves on the boards of MoMA PS1, the Jewish Museum, Performa, and The Public Art Fund.
Kim Shirley has been a North American Acquisitions Committee member since 2012. Shirley has also supported general acquisitions and she and her husband have pledged Carol Bove’s Mussel Shell to Tate. Shirley is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Seattle Art Museum and has served on Henry Art Gallery’s Advisory Council and the Henry Gallery Association.
Catherine Carver Dunn Appointed Executive Director of Tate Americas Foundation
The Tate Americas Foundation is delighted to announce that Catherine Carver Dunn has been appointed as its new Executive Director. She will take up the appointment in late February 2019.
Currently Deputy Director, Advancement at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, Dunn brings over 30 years’ experience at the heart of the New York cultural and philanthropic stage to the role. In her new post, she will lead the strategic direction of the Foundation in line with Tate’s vision to be an artistically adventurous and culturally inclusive, global art institution. She will work closely with Maria Balshaw, Director, Tate, and Pamela J. Joyner, Chair of the Board of Tate Americas Foundation, to foster the strong ongoing dialogue and collaboration between Tate and partners in the Americas which has resulted in a wide range of acquisitions, including works by Louise Bourgeois, John Constable, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Joan Jonas, Christian Marclay, Cildo Meireles, Bruce Nauman, Cy Twombly, Cindy Sherman and Kara Walker, among many others.
Maria Balshaw, Director Tate, said: ‘We are delighted that Catherine Carver Dunn, with her wealth of experience at American cultural organizations and her many successful and devoted years of service in public institutions, will bring an outstanding combination of qualities and expertise to this vital role. This position continues the historically strong and close dialogue between Tate and American artists, partners and supporters, building Tate’s collection and supporting our activities. We very much look forward to welcoming her to Tate and to working with her in the coming years.’
Pamela Joyner, Chair of Tate Americas Foundation said: ‘Catherine has a proven record in key cultural institutions of implementing organizational strategy. I look forward to working with her to advance Tate Americas Foundation’s work to promote art and artists of the Americas. She will play the lead role in developing the talent and creative thinking necessary to make the Foundation effective in the future.’
Catherine Carver Dunn said: ‘I am thrilled to accept this opportunity with Tate, a world-renowned institution and arts innovator with an unparalleled set of collections and exhibitions. I am excited to undertake the challenge of expanding Tate’s reach to and support from the Americas.’
As Deputy Director, Advancement at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, Catherine Carver Dunn has directed fundraising for the global modern and contemporary art foundation with its culturally-distinct museums in New York, Venice and Bilbao. Dunn oversees the raising of funds for exhibitions, acquisitions, conservation and education, and leads the Campaign for the Guggenheim to increase the Foundation’s endowment. As Deputy Director, Dunn oversees an advancement team that seeks support from individuals and acquisition affinity groups; corporate sponsorship and global partners; foundations; special events; and membership. Prior to her tenure at the Guggenheim, Catherine held various positions over a 22-year career at The New York Public Library. For the last nine years there she was Senior Vice President for External Affairs, directing the Library’s fundraising; government and community affairs; and communications and marketing activities. She developed and managed three fundraising campaigns to transform the Library’s services and facilities.
Dunn previously held key roles in the public sector including Assistant Director of Intergovernmental Relations at the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. She is an Art Museum Development Association Member.
For further information please contact Ruth Findlay or Duncan Holden in Tate Press Office on +44(0) 20 7887 8730 or email pressoffice@tate.org.uk.
Pamela Joyner to become Chair of the Tate Americas Foundation
Pamela Joyner will succeed Jeanne Donovan Fisher as Chair of the Tate Americas Foundation for a five year term starting on April 1, 2018.
Maria Balshaw, Director Tate, said: “We are delighted that Pamela Joyner has agreed to take on a leadership role as Chair of the Tate Americas Foundation. Pamela has been a close friend and supporter of Tate, contributing significantly to our recent Soul of a Nation exhibition and championing the work of African-American artists who are very important to Tate. We also wish to take this opportunity to extend our deepest appreciation to Jeanne Donovan Fisher for leading the organization so successfully for the past seven years”
Pamela Joyner said: “I am honored to take on the role of Chair for the Tate Americas Foundation and look forward to working with Maria Balshaw and the organisation in helping it to meet its inclusive and globally collaborative vision. As one of the world’s leading art institutions, Tate plays a critical groundbreaking role in casting a spotlight on the contribution of both established and under-represented artists to the evolution of visual art in the 20th and 21st centuries. This frame of reference is also consistent with my personal view of the best and highest purpose of arts institutions. I am excited to continue working with the talented team at Tate that continues to have great impact on how we all view art and culture.”
Pamela Joyner, who has been a Trustee of the Tate Americas Foundation since November 2015, is one of the United States’ pre-eminent collectors of abstract work by postwar and contemporary African American artists. Her first involvement with Tate was when she joined the Tate American Foundation’s North American Acquisitions Committee in 2011. She was Co-Chair of the Artists Dinner in 2013 and 2016 which together raised over $3.6 million.
Celebrating Thirty Years
The Trust Deed that created the American Fund for the Tate Gallery was signed thirty years ago on November 30, 1987. The endowment was gifted by Sir Edwin and Lady Manton to help Tate acquire works of art from North and South America. As an independent charity increasing number of donors supported the work of Tate in the 1990s which led to us opening an office in New York in 1999. Today, the Tate Americas Foundation – as we are now known – raises on average $15 million a year. Over the past thirty years we have raised over $300 million towards a large variety of projects at Tate, particularly the creation of Tate Modern, as well as numerous art acquisitions. We are indebted to the Sir Edwin and Lady Manton’s foresight for their truly transformative gift.