An Artful Journey: The Collection of Dr. James K. Hill (1935 – 2020)
Opening Reception: January 21st, 2:00 to 6:00 PM
Exhibition: January 21 – March 4, 2023
Galerie Myrtis invites you to “An Artful Journey: The Collection of Dr. James K. Hill” on Saturday, January 21st, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. The exhibition, which honors Dr. Hill’s legacy and passion for the arts, features prints, paintings, photographs, posters, and sculptures by prominent African American artists, many of whom were his personal friends.
Dr. Hill discovered that he had the “eye” and the discernment to become a true art connoisseur. Dr. Hill’s taste was eclectic and wide-ranging, evident in his collection, which includes important Harlem Renaissance artists, American arts, and handicrafts. He was an enthusiastic supporter of artists and programs at the Howard University Art Gallery and the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University, as well as a frequent lecturer at the Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Community Museum.
Dr. Hill was a gifted scholar, scientist, medical educator, college administrator, and renowned expert on historic preservation and African American art. Hill graduated from Brewer High School (1953), and he continued his education, earning a (B.S.) from Eastern Michigan University (1964), (M.S.) from Howard University (1968), and (Ed. D) at the University of Florida (1974). He served in administrative and director roles in Howard’s hospital system. He would become a Microbiology professor at Howard University, where he later retired. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Beta Kappa Chi.
Artwork is available from artists: Romare Bearden, Cornelius Marion Battey, Elizabeth Catlett, Eldzier Cortor, Daniel Freeman, Sam Gilliam, Palmer Hayden, Ethel P. Hood, May Howard Jackson, Lois Mailou Jones, Claude Lawrence, Jacob Lawrence, L. Leslie, Michael Platt, Addison Scurlock, Augusta Savage, James L. Wells, Charles White, and Hale Woodruff.
Dr. Hill was known for his weekly ritual of hunting for treasures. One of his valuable finds landed
him a starring role in an episode of his favorite television show, PBS’s Antique Road Show.