Bill Cosby Loaning African-American Art Collection To 'The Smithsonian' For Exhibit That Opens In November

When you think of Bill Cosby the first thing that often comes to mind is his hit show that aired from 1984-1992. The Cosby Show is etched into pop culture history and before that Cosby's dry comedy sets were already a permanent hit. While Cosby's name has been on the tip of nearly everyone's tongue for as long as they can remember there is one thing that the legend has kept private until now- his love of art. Over the last 40 years Bill and his wife, Camille Cosby have collected African-American Art and the couple is now going to showcase their expansive holdings at a special exhibit at The Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art announced today that a special exhibition that combines African-American art with African art will be available for the public to view beginning in November. The Cosby's collection includes over 300 paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints by various artists including Faith Ringgold, Jacob Lawrence, Augusta Savage and more. In a statement regarding the exhibit, Bill Cosby explained why he and Camille have decided to share their collection with the public for the very first time.

"To me, it's a way for people to see what exists and to give voice to many of these artists who were silenced for so long, some of whom will speak no more."

The exhibit, entitled, 'Conversations: African and African-American Artworks In Dialogue' will open to the public on November 9th and will be on display in Washington through early 2016. The exhibit intends to explore thoughts on power, creativity, history and artistry. What are your thoughts on Bill Cosby deciding to share the art that he has collected for most of his adult life with the Smithsonian's viewing audience?

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Bill Cosby, The Cosby Show