In recent years, contemporary artists have increasingly embraced the idea of giving back to their roots, creating spaces to inspire and cultivate new generations of artists and creatives. This global trend is particularly vibrant in Africa, where renowned names like Ibrahim Mahama, Elias Sime, Kehinde Wiley, Yinka Shonibare, Serge Attukwei Clottey and most recently, Amoako Boafo have spearheaded artist-led initiatives. From Mahama’s Red Clay and Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art to other ambitious projects scattered across the continent, these spaces are becoming incubators for talent and cultural exchange. Meanwhile, Julie Mehretu made headlines last month with her $2.25 million donation to the Whitney Museum, ensuring free admission for visitors aged 25 and under—a move as bold as her work.
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Now, record-smashing auction darling Derek Fordjour joins the ranks of artists giving back, unveiling a 4,466-square-foot art space in his hometown of Memphis. Dubbed Contemporary Arts Memphis (CAM), the new facility is designed to nurture young visual artists from under-resourced communities while amplifying Memphis’s dynamic arts scene. Fordjour, whose works grace the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, the Guggenheim, LACMA and the Whitney (among others), is fresh off a........