African and Latin American Art

Million-Dollar Donation to the Tate: A Work by Joan Mitchell and Support for Curating African and Latin American Art
The contribution of an iconic work by the American painter and funds opens a new chapter in the global representation of non-Western art.
Miami-based art collectors Jorge and Darlene Pérez made a significant donation to the prestigious Tate in London. The donated work is Iva, an emblematic piece by artist Joan Mitchell, painted in 1973.
The donation is not limited to this important work but also includes generous financial support for the museum's curatorial research and future acquisitions, with a particular emphasis on African and Latin American art. This gesture by the Pérez family reinforces their commitment to culture and the arts, both locally and internationally, and underscores Miami's growing role as a center for collecting contemporary art. Joan Mitchell's Work at Tate Modern

Iva's donation to Tate Modern is one of the most recent milestones for the Pérez family, who have been recognized for their contributions to the art world for years. This work by Joan Mitchell, one of the most prominent artists of Abstract Expressionism, was sold at Christie's New York in 2018 for $3.3 million (including commissions).
Iva, named after the artist's German Shepherd dog, now joins one of the most important collections of modern and contemporary art in the world.

The Pérez family's decision to donate the piece responds, in part, to a reflection by Maria Balshaw, director of Tate, who commented that, by the time Mitchell's importance was recognized in the United Kingdom, her works were already too expensive to be included in public collections.

This donation, therefore, fills a significant gap at Tate, allowing this important work by Mitchell to be exhibited in a high-profile space alongside another iconic piece: Mark Rothko's Seagram Mural. Mitchell's work, which features a play of vibrant colors, especially reds, was highlighted by Jorge Pérez, who noted that the light in the space allows the painting to "breathe" and its details to be more appreciated.
Profile of Jorge and Darlene Pérez

Jorge Pérez, born in Argentina to Cuban parents, built a fortune through his company, The Related Group, which specialized in the development of luxury condominiums.

In addition to his business success, Pérez was a great patron of the arts. In 2019, he opened El Espacio 23, a contemporary art exhibition center in Miami, which houses a large part of his personal collection.

Over the years, Jorge and Darlene Pérez were key figures in the Miami art world, donating more than $60 million to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). This museum, named after the Pérez family after a historic $40 million donation in 2011, benefited from a new $25 million contribution in 2023.

The Pérez family's relationship with PAMM was not limited to financial contributions; they also enriched its collection with important pieces of Cuban art, as well as art from other parts of the world.
The Pérez Family's Commitment to African and Latin American Art

One of the most exciting aspects of this donation is the impact it will have on the curatorship of African and Latin American art at Tate. The Pérez family not only donated a valuable work, but also funded a multimillion-pound endowment to support curatorial research in these fields.

According to Tate, this endowment will create dedicated curatorial positions for African and Latin American art, strengthening the museum's ability to study and exhibit these collections in greater depth.

The museum has already received pledges of future donations of African and Latin American art from the Pérez family. Over the coming years, pieces by artists such as Yinka Shonibare, El Anatsui, and Joy Labinjo will be added to Tate's collection, broadening the diversity of its holdings and ensuring that works by artists from the African and Latin American diaspora have stronger and more visible representation.

The Pérez family's support also includes their active participation on Tate's Latin American Art Acquisitions Committee. This reflects Jorge Pérez's longstanding commitment to the art of Latin America, an area that was central to his work as a collector.
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