Arthur Jafa's 'Love Is the Message' Acquired by Pérez Art Museum Miami

The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) has acquired Arthur Jafa's seminal 2016 video work 'Love Is the Message, the Message Is Death.' The 7-minute-25-second digital video, set to Kanye West's 'Ultralight Beam,' compiles found footage spanning 400 years of African American history, juxtaposing scenes of beauty, violence, and joy. Jafa, born in 1960, aims to replicate the power and alienation of Black music. His multidisciplinary practice includes film, installations, sculptures, and performances. His works are held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum. The acquisition underscores PAMM's commitment to contemporary art addressing racial identity. Miami's demographic makeup—70% Latino, 20% Black, 8% white, 1% Asian—contrasts with its ongoing racial tensions, a theme Jafa's work confronts. The video features appearances by Barack Obama, Michael Jackson, Serena Williams, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, and Drake, among others. Jafa has directed music videos for Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Solange Knowles since 2016.