In the News

Artsy | The Mother-Daughter Duo Who Amassed an Incredible Trove of African American Art

Karen Chernick takes a closer look at the mother-daughter duo of Dr. Constance E. and Williabell Clayton, whose personal collection of art is on view in our exhibition, "Awakened in You".

The two Clayton women shared a home and an appetite for collecting. For almost 50 years, they purchased artwork by black artists, amassing a collection that spans the mid-19th century until today.

“[There’s] a real familial aspect to the collection, a generational aspect to the collection, a passing down of passion and respect for the Black voice,” said Brooke Anderson, director of the PAFA’s museum and co-curator of the exhibition. “This is something that brought them an enormous amount of joy.”


About PAFA

Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the United States’ first school and museum of fine arts. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, PAFA offers a world-class collection of American art, innovative exhibitions of historic and contemporary American art, and educational opportunities in the fine arts. The PAFA Museum aims to tell America's diverse story through art, expanding who has been included in the canon of art history through its collections, exhibitions, and public programs, while classes educate artists and appreciators with a deep understanding of traditions and the ability to challenge conventions. PAFA’s esteemed alumni include Mary Cassatt, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, William Glackens, Barkley L. Hendricks, Violet Oakley, Louis Kahn, David Lynch, and Henry Ossawa Tanner.