Donor Statement
Deborah Beckmann and Jacob Kotzubei just recently began considering themselves art “collectors”, influenced by the fact that others have often referred to them as such. Their collection of works developed organically and though they did not set out to do so, they have found that their eyes and hearts most frequently gravitate to works by African, African diaspora, female, and Latinx artists. Deborah and Jacob own works by Charles Gaines, Jennifer Bartlett, Yinka Shonibare, Kehinde Wiley, Ebony Patterson, Hadieh Shafie, Ghada Amer, Kevin Beasley, Lina Iris Viktor, Yashua Klos, Alteronce Gumby, Fernando Botero, Anthony Akinbola, Pae White, Marcellina Akpojotor, Marielle Plaisir, and past Noldor Residency artists and fellows, Emmanuel Taku and Joshua Oheneba-Takyi respectively, amongst others. Along the way, they have autobiographically become more and more interested in, and excited by, engaging with and supporting artists and arts organizations. They have loaned multiple works from their collection for museum and gallery exhibitions and are supporters of DIA in New York and ICA Miami. They have been following the Noldor Residency’s development and, in becoming donors to Noldor, Deborah and Jacob cited that their support reflects the profound appreciation and respect they have for Noldor’s leadership, fellows, artists and mission at large.
