Athena Society Acquires....
- Vero Minute
- Apr 20
- 3 min read
Vero Beach Museum of Art just landed an artist whose work you usually have to leave town to see: Yinka Shonibare
At its annual dinner last week on April 16, the Athena Society voted to acquire Wind Sculpture in Bronze VI (2025) by Yinka Shonibare, an artist whose work is held by MoMA, the Tate, and the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art.
Now, he joins Vero Beach’s permanent collection.
Yinka Shonibare, CBE (British-Nigerian, b. 1962), Wind Sculpture in Bronze VI, 2025. Hand painted bronze,
78 ¾ x 59 x 54 inches. © Yinka Shonibare
Wind Sculpture in Bronze VI, 2025
Yinka Shonibare's Wind Sculpture in Bronze VI, 2025, is a significant piece in his artistic portfolio.
The sculpture stands at 78 ¾ x 59 x 54 inches and is part of a series of nine unique hand-painted bronze statues. The series draws on the form of ship sails, which have historically enabled imperial expansion and global trade. Shonibare abstracts the sail motif and incorporates the bright patterns of Dutch wax fabric, a material often associated with West Africa despite its origins in Indonesian batik and its manufacture by the Dutch.
This transformation into a dynamic, flowing form conveys both movement and fragility, making it a unique addition to the collection. The sculpture is expected to have a prominent position in the courtyard of the new building opening in 2028, showcasing the artist's ongoing exploration of migration and cultural exchange.
Yinka Shonibare (b. 1962) studied Fine Art at Byam Shaw School of Art, London (1989) and received his MFA from Goldsmiths, University of London (1991).
His interdisciplinary practice uses citations of Western art history and literature to question the validity of contemporary cultural and national identities within the context of globalisation. Through examining race, class and the construction of cultural identity, his works comment on the tangled interrelationship between Africa and Europe, and their respective economic and political histories
What makes this moment so unique is just how it happens:
The Athena Society, now 164 households, made the decision collectively, continuing a two-decade commitment to building the museum’s permanent collection. This is their 30th acquisition, and it signals serious ambition.
When the museum’s new building opens in 2028, this sculpture will hold a prominent place in the courtyard, setting the tone from the moment visitors step in.
VBMA will also receive as a gift from the artist La Méduse, a large-scale photographic work that draws on the story behind Géricault’s Raft of the Medusa. It introduces the ship motif that continues in the sculpture, tying the two works together across time and medium.
Théodore Géricault is known for his painting "The Raft of the Medusa," which depicts the aftermath of the shipwreck of the French frigate Méduse off the coast of Senegal in 1816. This painting is a significant work of French Romanticism and is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Shonibare's work is influenced by various artists, but specifically, his "La Méduse" is based on this this work. This historical painting has significantly impacted Shonibare's artistic approach, particularly in his exploration of themes related to colonialism and identity.
Another Athena Society acquisition, and Vero Beach is in very good company.
To learn more about membership in Athena Society, contact Bev Shea, Assistant Director of Development, at bshea@verobeachmuseum.org or (772) 231-0707 ext. 109
