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Together: Selections from the Cochran Collection of African American Art

Exhibition Info
© Hatch-Billops Estate.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Together: Selections from the Cochran Collection of African American ArtSaturday, May 18, 2024 - Sunday, August 4, 2024

In the summer of 1988, young art collectors Wesley and Missy Cochran traveled from their home in LaGrange, Georgia to see 1938-1988: The Work of Five Black Women Artists, an exhibition at the Atlanta College of Art held in conjunction with the inaugural National Black Arts Festival (NBAF). Featuring works by Emma Amos, Camille Billops, Lois Mailou Jones, Howardena Pindell, and Faith Ringgold, this retrospective exhibition acknowledged and celebrated these artists and their contributions to the field of American art.

The trip was pivotal for the Cochrans; prior to this moment, works by Andy Warhol and other pop artists comprised the majority of their collection. No stranger to hard work and dedication–Wes worked as a stonemason and Missy taught in the public school system–they decided together to expand the scope of their collection by pursuing works by African American artists. Their goal was to travel exhibitions and make works by Black artists accessible to small museums, cultural and educational institutions, and community organizations throughout the South. Working as a two-person team for the last four decades, they have traveled their collection nationwide. "We always decide, and work, together," Wes remarked in a 1990 Art Papers interview with Mildred Thompson, an artist-educator who would become a close friend. They had amassed almost 100 works by Black American artists at the time of the interview; now, that number exceeds 500.

The earliest acquisitions were guided by Camille Billops after Howardena Pindell supplied the Cochrans with Billops' phone number at The Work of Five Black Women. The Cochrans credit Billops with the curation of their collection. Her friendship came with sound advice about what artists to look out for, what books to read, and what to collect. Through Camille, Wes and Missy met Robert Blackburn, a master printmaker whose diverse Chelsea workshop was a hub for emerging and established artists alike. The Cochrans often acquired work on the spot during studio visits. As they built trust with artists, more introductions came. "We have tried to develop a reputation for being dependable, that our checks don't bounce and that we keep our promises," said Wes of this period of personal growth and collection expansion. The title Together refers at once to the Cochrans' collecting philosophy, the guidance of their mentors, and the relationships they formed with artists who became friends.

The collection consists of prominent as well as under recognized African American artists who explore varied themes reflecting significant social, political, and cultural movements of the 20th century. It offers unparalleled opportunities for research and community engagement.

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© Estate of James Lesesne Wells.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
James Lesesne Wells
1929
© Sonya Clark.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Sonya Clark
2017
© Estate of Emma Amos.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Emma Amos
1974
© Howardena Pindell.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Howardena Pindell
2002
© Estate of Elizabeth Catlett.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Elizabeth Catlett
1986
© Estate of Jacob Lawrence.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Jacob Lawrence
1993
© Estate of Mildred Thompson.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Mildred Thompson
1991
© Alison Saar.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Alison Saar
2014
© Hatch-Billops Estate.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Camille Billops
1990
© Hatch-Billops Estate.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Camille Billops
1975
© Estate of Sam Gilliam.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Sam Gilliam
1990
© Leon Hicks.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Leon Hicks
1962
© Estate of Mavis Pusey.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Mavis Pusey
ca. 1970
© Estate of Faith Ringgold.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Faith Ringgold
1984
© Estate of Betty Blayton.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Betty Blayton
1977
© Estate of William Pope.L.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
William Pope.L
2004
© Estate of Valerie Maynard.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Valerie Maynard
ca. 1970
© Estate of Radcliffe Bailey.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Radcliffe Bailey
2003
© Estate of Marvin Smith.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Marvin Smith
1934
© Estate of Alma Thomas.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Alma Thomas
1973
© Howardena Pindell.  Image courtesy of G Ray Sullivan Jr.
Howardena Pindell
2004-2005