NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale recently unveiled Moria (08.09.20) (Border Line), 2021, by the late Dutch artist Jacqueline de Jong, marking a significant addition to its permanent collection. Made possible by the museum’s Curator Circle, this acquisition underscores the museum’s role as a leading cultural institution in South Florida, which has continued to elevate Fort Lauderdale’s growing art scene.
The Curator Circle, launched in 2021 under Director and Chief Curator Bonnie Clearwater’s vision, empowers its members to actively shape the Museum’s permanent collection of works by world-renowned artists. Designed for the next generation of art enthusiasts and collectors, Curator Circle members enjoy exclusive access to private collections, special events, and, most importantly, the opportunity to contribute directly to the Acquisition Fund. This involvement ensures that the museum continues to establish a strong collection of diverse and dynamic contemporary art for patrons of the museum to enjoy for generations to come.
Jacqueline de Jong, who passed away June 29, 2024, at the age of 85, was a pivotal figure in both contemporary art and the European avant-garde. Her art, known for its expressive and confrontational style, often tackled themes of power and resistance. The decision to acquire de Jong’s Moria (08.09.20) (Border Line) exemplifies the Curator Circle’s commitment to impactful art. Created in response to the Moria refugee camp crisis on the island of Lesvos, Greece, in 2020, this powerful piece addresses themes of displacement and human suffering, highlighting the ongoing relevance of de Jong’s work.
Continuing de Jong’s legacy, NSU Art Museum will present Jacqueline de Jong: Vicious Circles beginning November 17, 2024, through May 4, 2025. This will mark the first solo museum exhibition in the United States dedicated to the artist and the first time Moria (08.09.20) (Border Line) will be on view since joining the permanent collection. This survey of her works will consider the perpetual theme of war and protest within the artist’s oeuvre; whether in paintings dedicated to the rebellious spirit of rock ‘n’ roll, or haunting portrayals of the ongoing war in Ukraine, De Jong remained focused on the present, reacting to the now.
“It is a privilege for the museum to be the first U.S. institution to mount a retrospective dedicated to Jacqueline de Jong, a revolutionary who, since the 1960s, vitally engaged the world through art,” stated the museum’s Bryant-Taylor Curator Ariella Wolens. “We are grateful to the Curators Circle for their commitment and foresight, which has enabled us to also be the first American museum to acquire De Jong’s art for its collection. These landmarks held deep personal significance for Jacqueline, who, over the course of what became her final years, dedicated her passion, time, and vision to their realization.”
To learn more about the Curator Circle at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale or upcoming exhibitions, please visit www.nsuartmuseum.org.
Photo caption: Bonnie Clearwater, Director and Chief Curator of NSU Art Museum, Lisa Quinn,
Elisabeth Wennberg, Ariella Wolens, unveiling Moria (08.09.20) (Border Line), 2021, by Jacqueline de Jong, selected by Curator Circle members.
