Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Forbes is the owner and Director of Jac Forbes Contemporary in Malibu California, and Co-Founder and Managing Director of Botho Art Collective, an International Art Fair.   Having organized over 50 exhibitions, featuring both local and international artists, Jac is a curator who advises and builds holistic collections from international and domestic genres.  She regularly attends fairs such Frieze Art Fair (London), 1-54 London, Art Basel (Hong Kong, Basel Switzerland) and the Venice Biennale International Exhibitions to maintain a presence in the global art market.  Along with fostering close relationships with some of the contemporary art world’s best emerging artists, Jac also works closely with her collectors to assist them in thoughtfully and purposefully expanding and augmenting their collections. Outside of the gallery, Jac specializes in corporate curation, art project management, and both private and corporate acquisitions. 

Jac’s specialty and focus is women artists and artists of the African diaspora. She very quickly realized and understood the importance of connecting and creating opportunities for the these chronically underrepresented groups in the art industry, carving pathways for both Artist and Collector. Jac’s mission is to eliminate the gate keeper and welcome diversity through seamless interactions between Artists, Collectors and the Community.

In the fall of 2021, emerging from one of the most challenging times in history, Jac partnered with artist manager Matsela Moshokoa to produce a museum-scale exhibition for world renownedSouth African artist Nelson Makamo.  Jac and Matsela celebrated this intercontinental connection by presenting BLUE -- Nelson Makamo’s first solo exhibition in the US -- with over 40 fine art paintings. This rich cultural event in the heart of DTLA Art’s District presented both brand partnerships and community engagement that organically bridged the two in a month-long celebration of the arts.

Following the success of BLUE, Jac’s mission expanded as she explored growth opportunities in other spaces to co-create a new experience for Artist and their communities. Jac again partnered with Nelson Makamo and Matesla Mosukou to host an Artist-led International Art Fair representing a stellar collection of artists to be hosted in cities around the world.  Thus, the BothoArt Collective was borne. In April 2022, the inaugural Botho Art Collective, brought Arts and culture together in a unprecendented way to the heart of the Art’s District in Los Angeles. Celebrating the three pillars of the Collective, (Artists, Community and Collectors), the fair hosted Artist talks, Griot tours, music, community events and culturally organic brand presentations. 

‘As Stewards of Art, it is our obligation to enrich and enhance the overall Collective’