Tina Knowles Lawson, widely recognized as the mother of influential figures Beyoncé and Solange, is not just a mother but also a dedicated art collector. Recently, Lawson graciously opened her California home to Kimberly Drew, a curator from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to showcase her personal art collection for Vanity Fair’s September issue. During their conversation, they delved into the importance of visual representation, Lawson’s philosophy of collecting, her first art purchase, and more.
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Lawson’s passion for art was sparked at the age of 19 when she made her first significant art acquisition—an abstract painting from a furniture store. Whether a reproduction or not, it ignited her love for living with art. With a particular focus on African American artists, Lawson made sure her daughters grew up surrounded by powerful cultural imagery. Both Beyoncé and Solange credit their upbringing for their awareness of their heritage, particularly through exposure to Black art.
Lawson’s collection encompasses works by acclaimed Harlem Renaissance artists like Hale Woodruff, Romare Bearden, and Charles Alston, alongside pieces from emerging talents such as Genevieve Gaignard and Toyin Ojih Odutola. She greatly admires contemporary artist Robert Pruitt, whose works used to grace her walls until Beyoncé “borrowed” them indefinitely.
Unlike collectors driven solely by monetary value, Lawson treasures art for its spiritual significance. She views her collection as a personal connection to the artists and their narratives, placing greater emphasis on their cultural impact rather than their financial worth. This approach undoubtedly influenced her daughters’ artistic sensibilities, reflected in Beyoncé and Jay Z’s music video shot at the Louvre and Solange’s performances at prestigious art venues worldwide.
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Lawson’s collection includes works acquired through auctions, with notable purchases including pieces by Sam Gilliam and two Picasso lithographs. Even her granddaughter, Blue Ivy, has displayed an interest in art, enthusiastically participating in auctions at events like the Wearable Art Gala.
Among the artists showcased in Lawson’s collection are Elizabeth Catlett, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, John Biggers, and Kermit Oliver. Solange fittingly describes their upbringing as an “awakening,” shaped by the values instilled by their mother, Tina Knowles Lawson.
