On August 26, Alex Cooper brings the collection of Dr. Gloria Bozeman Herndon to auction. Rife with stunning finds from African artisans, the offerings truly cannot be missed. Several highlights can be found below; be sure to peruse their catalog for the remainder (including Dr. Herndon’s beautiful baby grand!).
Known as the “entrepreneurs’ entrepreneur,” Dr. Herndon has cultivated a successful international business for over 35 years. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, she served as a Rockefeller Fellow, a Brookings Institute Research Fellow, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. This led to her time as a diplomat with the Foreign Service. Her postings as an economic/commercial officer in Lagos, Kaduna, Kinshasa, Monrovia, and Nouakchott allowed her to build this remarkable artistic collection.
Within the collection itself, one can find bronze busts from Benin, carrying on the legacy of the famous Bronzes; oil paintings from Angola, honoring Cuban intervention in the Civil War, and Nigeria, celebrating black feminine identity; and mixed media from Ghana, a study and advocation for culture. Each is beautifully unique, allowing the viewer a glimpse into the sociocultural life of each artist. Truly, it feels as if one can connect to a time beyond our own.
This connection is precisely what Dr. Herndon, a cousin of Dr. Maya Angelou and Chadwick Boseman, has aimed to nurture throughout her career. Currently focused on innovative and sustainable solutions in the energy, environment, and health sectors, this economist and philanthropist has continued to be a pioneer in consultancy since her return to the United States in the 1980s.
She established the Small Business Administration’s program for advising minority-owned businesses, crafted the current specialized healthcare plans for foreign students enrolled in U.S. schools, and assisted in the creation of health, property, and casualty insurance programs for embassies in D.C. and internationally, among many other things.
The Founder, President, and CEO of GB Group Global, Dr. Herndon has been a lifelong supporter of the arts, and is an accomplished writer and musician herself. The auction brought by Alex Cooper is a testament to that love and advocacy. There is so much to be found.
