Photo: Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A Celtics power couple is giving back to the Boston community one art exhibit at a time.
Two-time NBA Champion Jrue Holiday and two-time Olympic gold medalist Lauren Holiday’s foundation, the Jrue & Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund (JLH Fund), signed a three-year partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to showcase artworks from small artists in a bigger spotlight and expand its accessibility.
Last month, the partnership opened its first exhibit, “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson,” the largest curation of John Wilson’s work. Wilson is a Roxbury native whose best known for portraying themes of social justice over the span of his 60-year career.
Read more: New MFA Exhibit Honors Roxbury Native Artist John Wilson
“Drew particularly had a very specific response to certain images,” Museum Director Matthew Teitelbaum told WBZ NewsRadio. "[He said ‘oh, that speaks to me.[And] that’s my relationship. And that’s my dad reading me a book.’”
The Holidays founded the JLH Fund in 2020 with a mission to empower and create opportunities for entrepreneurs from underserved communities by providing funding, mentorship, and resources. The museum said that mission aligned closely with Wilson’s legacy.
“John Wilson’s art was a powerful testament to that same mission—fighting for representation, inspiring future generations, and ensuring that these important stories are seen and heard,” Lauren Holiday said.
Under this partnership, the JLH Fund also created the “Holiday Pass” program at the MFA for kids to bring their family members to the museum for free.
“It’s doing quite well, so far I think over a thousand passes have gone out,” Teitelbaum said.
The “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson” exhibit will be at the MFA until June and will be moved to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.