Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest tears up after expert revealed the real value of his $1,000 collage (marketrealist.com)
Actor Gbenga Akinnagbe, known for his role as Chris Partlow in “The Wire,” got quite the surprise on a recent episode of “Antiques Roadshow.” Akinnagbe, an avid art collector, brought in a collage he’d picked up at auction for $1,000, believing it to be a significant piece of Black history. He had a hunch about the artist but wasn’t entirely sure.
Appraiser Betty Krulik quickly identified the piece as the work of contemporary artist Titus Kaphar, whose work has recently garnered significant attention, with one large-scale painting selling for $4 million. Akinnagbe’s reaction? Pure shock, followed by tears of joy.
Krulik explained the collage’s powerful imagery. Titled “New Annunciation,” it depicts an Annunciation scene overlaid with images of African American workers, blending art history with cultural commentary.
She noted Kaphar’s practice of reimagining classical works through the lens of the African American experience. The only other Kaphar collage to come to market recently sold for $27,000.
The appraisal? A staggering $30,000 insurance value.
Overcome with emotion, a speechless Akinnagbe could only chuckle and wipe away tears, expressing his gratitude to the artist. It seems this “Wire” actor has a keen eye for art as well as acting.