Date of Award
May 2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Art History
First Advisor
David Pacifico
Abstract
The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) faces a difficult task in overcoming more than a century of the systemic lack of diversity in its collection and exhibition of artworks. Only recently has there been progress toward including works of Black artists among its overwhelmingly white European and American collection. It has been clear for several decades that the collection no longer reflects the demographics of the Milwaukee area, particularly the Black community. Visitors to the museum, many of whom are Black students participating in docent-led tours, have had limited reason to identify with or appreciate the museum’s collection of fine art.
Progress toward remedying this imbalance began slowly in the 1970’s, but only in the past decade has the acquisition of Black art and, as importantly, its manner of presentation, begun to meaningfully recognize and address this inadequacy. By 2024, the museum has shown its desire to address this shortfall through the prominent exhibition of several works by Black artists. Much remains to be done, as the overall representation of Black art remains small, and the tour docent population has hardly any Black representation. A renewed and unrelenting focus on this problem by the Director, curators, and Museum Board is required.
Recommended Citation
Hammond, Tsui-Ching, "The Acquisition and Presentation of Black Art in the Milwaukee Art Museum: Considering Authenticity and Aesthetics" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 3474.
https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/3474