Overview
- The Alabama HBCU sold four of six murals painted between 1939 and 1942 to raise money for its endowment and to meet payroll, according to officials.
- The Toledo Museum of Art acquired The Underground Railroad, while Art Bridges Foundation and the Terra Foundation for American Art jointly bought three Amistad-themed murals.
- Art experts estimate the transactions total about $20 million, though the parties have not disclosed official prices.
- Although agreements are still being finalized, terms require clear Talladega provenance in loan displays and permit all six murals to reunite on campus every six to eight years.
- Two murals depicting the college’s founding and the construction of Savery Library remain on campus, with leaders citing broader public access for the sold works after low on-site visitation.