Gutierrez Collection of contemporary art goes on view in Winston-Salem, NC
The North Carolina Museum of Art, Winston-Salem (formerly SECCA) presents We Belong Here: The Gutierrez Collection, on view October 23 through December 27, 2025. An opening reception will be held Thursday, October 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The museum is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
We Belong Here: The Gutierrez Collection is the first public exhibition of a collection of contemporary art built over the past decade by North Carolina-based collectors Onay Gutierrez and Jeff Childers. In their words, “The Gutierrez Collection aims to create a space where art becomes a platform for dialogue and understanding across a broad spectrum of identities and perspectives.”
We Belong Here features over 40 works created in the 21st century by over 40 international contemporary artists working in a broad range of media, engaged with current social, political, cultural, and personal issues. Artists include Anthony Akinbola, Saif Azzuz, Monica Kim Garza, Jeffrey Gibson, Hayv Kahraman, Beverly McIver, Zanele Muholi, Angel Otero, Deborah Roberts, Tavares Strachan, Mickalene Thomas, and Kehinde Wiley, among many others.
“This powerful exhibition celebrates the global voices of contemporary artists and asserts that everyone has a place in the story of art,” Linda Dougherty, Chief Curator and Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the NCMA, said. “We Belong Here provides a rare opportunity to see works by international contemporary artists whose works are not often on view in the U.S.”
Gutierrez and Childers, who began their collection in 2015, describe their collecting philosophy as “revolving around the contemporary cultural landscape of their time through a cross section of artistic voices primarily from underrepresented communities.” As collectors, they prioritize artists who deviate from traditional or expected approaches to their medium, and who employ unique techniques to convey specific narratives. Their collection reflects contemporary ideas around mental health; LGBTQ rights; Latin/Latinx, African, and African Diasporic identities; as well as broader explorations of activism, protest, and civil disobedience.
This exhibition is made possible through the support of Onay Gutierrez and Jeffrey Childers and is co-organized with the Cameron Art Museum/CAM in Wilmington, N.C. On view at CAM: April 23 through September 7, 2025.
