Améfrica: Diasporic Connections in the Jorge M. Pérez Collection

Améfrica: Diasporic Connections in the Jorge M. Pérez Collection examines the enduring influence of African histories, aesthetics, and cultural traditions on the artistic and social landscapes of the Americas. Drawing on the concept of “Amefricanity,” developed by Afro-Brazilian philosopher and activist Lélia Gonzalez, the exhibition challenges conventional understandings of cultural identity and emphasizes the interconnected histories that have shaped the African diaspora. Rather than treating Africa and the Americas as separate cultural territories, it explores how migration, resistance, adaptation, and creativity have continuously transformed their relationship. Bringing together artists across generations and geographic regions, the exhibition traces these connections through diverse artistic practices, including photography, painting, sculpture, and installation. Its thematic sections explore processes of adaptation, resistance, reinterpretation, and the creation of new forms, revealing how cultural knowledge and visual traditions are preserved, reimagined, and transmitted over time. Among the participating artists is American photographer Deana Lawson, whose carefully composed portraits explore Black identity, intimacy, family, and the complexities of representation. Her inclusion situates her photographic practice within a broader conversation about diasporic experience, cultural memory, and the ways contemporary artists engage with histories of Black life and belonging. Presented at the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo in Seville, Spain, the exhibition draws from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection to reveal relationships that extend beyond national borders. By bringing these artists into dialogue, Améfrica highlights the richness and diversity of Afro-Atlantic cultural exchange and invites audiences to consider how histories of ancestry, displacement, and creative expression continue to shape the present.