Kerry and Betty Davis didn’t set out to become art collectors, much less amass a significant and renowned anthology of African American works by a diverse array of artists and sculptors. But their decades-long labor of love has yielded one of the most comprehensive and eclectic libraries of such unique works, 62 of which will be on display at the Appleton Museum of Art in “Memories and Inspiration,” which runs from Saturday to March 28.
Built over 35 years, the Davis Collection boasts works by African American artists from the modern to the classical, with paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures reflecting a breadth of nearly a century of different styles and mediums. Kerry, a retired Atlanta postman who also serves as a church deacon, and Betty, a television producer and director, began the collection for the most relatable of reasons: They simply wanted to decorate their home with interesting things. It became a lifetime’s work together.