Collections
Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Every Moment Counts (Ecstatic Antibodies), 1989. C-Type archival print, 20 x 24 in. Collection of Art Galleries at Black Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, Purchase, 2024.009. Courtesy of Autograph, London © Rotimi Fani-Kayode
Art Galleries at Black Studies at The University of Texas at Austin (AGBS) is an academic resource of The University of Texas at Austin and a repository of materials relating to Africa and the African Diaspora. It stewards the African and African Diaspora Studies Department’s permanent collection of nearly 1,300 art objects and artifacts in collaboration with Black Diaspora Archives (BDA). The mission of AGBS in concert with BDA is to make the University’s collections reflect the rich experiences of Africa and the African Diaspora. Our collecting initiatives can also be seen across campus at the Blanton Museum of Art and the Harry Ransom Center.
The strengths of the permanent collection include modern and contemporary works on paper, including prints, photographs, drawings, artists' books and portfolios, paintings and sculpture, all of which enhance ongoing programs of study at UT Austin.
AGBS views its collection, in part, as an educational resource. As such, original art objects and artifacts serve a variety of pedagogical objectives, which include the following:
to inspire creative and analytical work across the academic disciplines;
to teach, through first-hand study, strategies, and techniques of artistic creation and production;
to teach about historical and contemporary cultures;
to teach museology through the direct practice of museum display and interpretation;
to make art objects available to scholars, museums, and educational institutions for purposes of exhibition, research, or education;
to reflect the research interest of faculty.
For questions about the collection and research requests, please utilize our Contact page here.