Something All Our Own: The Grant Hill Collection of African American Art

Grant Hill addresses camera crews and microphones during a press event that includes CBS Sunday Morning, ESPN’s Cold Pizza and student reporters. Photo by Duke Photography.

Just in time for March Madness, the Nasher Museum presented an exhibition from the collection of NBA player and Duke graduate Grant Hill. Something All Our Own included works by some of the most important artists of the 20th century.

Hill and his wife, five-time Grammy-nominated singersongwriter Tamia Hill, had been collecting works for nine years to build Something All Our Own. He said his love of art and sports was inspired by his father, former Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill.

“I wanted to be like my father,” said Hill, who was an integral part of two Duke national championship teams. “As a child, our home was filled with paintings, sculptures and artifacts from places throughout the world, but especially what my father calls ‘Third World’ art. It had a profound impact on me and shaped my own thinking about collecting African-American art and sharing my collection.”

Coach Mike Krzyzewski and members of the Duke Men’s Basketball team came for the opening event. Eight TV crews, including CBS Sunday Morning and ESPN, came to film the Orlando Magic All-star walking through the galleries.