We Belong Here: The Gutierrez Collection

April 25, 2025 – September 7, 2025

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.” Focusing on works created during the 21st century, this exhibition features over 40 works by over 40 international contemporary artists, working in a broad range of media, and creating works engaged with current social, political, cultural, and personal issues. Artists include Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Jerrell Gibbs, Jeffrey Gibson, Ayana Jackson, Hayv Kahraman, Kaws, Jun Kaneko, David LaChapelle, Beverly McIver, Zanele Muholi, Carmen Neely, Zohra Opoku, Angel Otero, Maia Cruz Palileo, Tavares Strachan, Mickalene Thomas, and Kehinde Wiley among many others.

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 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 ideas around activism, protest and civil disobedience.