Start of the Art:
Collections in the Making
SEP - OCT | THE COLORED GIRL'S MUSEUM
4613 Newhall Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144
MEET THE FOUNDER
William Skeet Jiggetts
William Skeet Jiggetts has been collecting art for over thirty years, starting with an original work by Lucien Crump. His journey evolved significantly with the mentorship of renowned collector Ron Ollie, who inspired him not only to collect, but to engage in arts patronage and build relationships with emerging and contemporary artists. Currently, Mr Jiggetts serves as a trustee and board member for several visual fine arts organizations.
(above)
Linda Gail Sanders
Title Unknown, 1996
From the collection of:
Sydney Howe Barksdale, PhD, Esq.
The Museum of African American Art Collections (MAAAC) is a forum for the display, study, and appreciation of collections of Black art accumulated by African American collectors in a traditional museum setting.
(to the right)
Linda Gail Sanders
Title Unknown, 1996
From the collection of:
Sydney Howe Barksdale, PhD, Esq.
The MAAAC Welcomes Our New Curator
Tamara J. Mason
We are thrilled to welcome Tamara J. Mason as the new Curator at the Museum of African American Art Collections. An accomplished independent curator and arts professional, Tamara brings a profound dedication to highlighting contemporary Black artistic practices through exhibitions centered on spirituality, ritual, memory, identity, and community engagement.
Her curatorial vision bridges historical inquiry and contemporary cultural discourse, with a powerful focus on Black sacred traditions, collective memory, and material culture. Her notable recent exhibitions include Possession: Body, Memory, Home (2026) and Roots and Reflections (2024) at the Scribe Video and Arts Center, as well as Narrative Tactility (2023) at Rush Arts Gallery in Philadelphia. Tamara holds her B.A. in Art History from Temple University, where she also completed graduate coursework for her M.A. in Art History with a focus on early modern art, collecting practices, and transnational art markets.
We extend our deepest and most effusive gratitude to our visionary benefactor, Vashti Dubois, for her extraordinary generosity in underwriting the Curatorial Fellowship that makes this vital leadership position possible.
Upcoming Events
September through October - Opening Exhibition
START OF THE ART: COLLECTIONS IN THE MAKING
Every great legacy begins with a single piece. Start of the Art: Collections in the Making pulls back the curtain on the deeply personal world of early-stage collecting, turning the spotlight on collectors who own fewer than 30 pieces.
Location:
The Colored Girls Museum
4613 Newhall Street, Phila, PA 19144
