ART! Museum of Fine Tribal Art Collection Estimated Near $6 Million

Collection Estimated Near $6 Million Shared Freely Across Rhode Island

The Museum of Fine Tribal Art (MoFTA), founded in 2025 by Dr. Justin D. Bibee and Yousra Bibee as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit museum in Rhode Island, is drawing increased attention following preliminary research suggesting that the museum’s collection may be valued at approximately $6 million. The estimate was developed through intern-led research comparing select works to similar pieces sold in the global art market.

Dr. Bibee has emphasized that this figure represents an informal, preliminary assessment rather than a professional appraisal. He noted that an official valuation will likely differ, as professional appraisals consider a wider range of factors, including provenance, condition, historical significance, and current market dynamics—elements that make formal appraisal a far more rigorous and complex process.

MoFTA originated as a personal collection—The Justin Bibee Collection—and has since grown into a broader public initiative dedicated to preserving and sharing fine tribal art from around the world. Today, the collection includes works from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, reflecting a wide range of cultural traditions and artistic practices. The museum’s long-term goal is to secure a permanent space where these works can be responsibly preserved and exhibited for public benefit.

As MoFTA works toward establishing a permanent home, the museum continues to share its collection directly with the public through partnerships with local libraries across Rhode Island.

Current exhibitions include Art of Oceania at the Warwick Public Library; African Art at the Mt. Pleasant Library in Providence; Asia & Africa: Stories from Two Worlds at the Washington Park Library in Providence; and a focused display featuring an A-Tshol headdress at the Olneyville Library in Providence.

Despite the preliminary valuation, the Bibees have consistently emphasized stewardship over financial worth, underscoring that their primary focus remains the responsible care of the collection and the expansion of public access to tribal art. “The conversation around valuation is important,” Dr. Bibee said, “but for us, the greater priority has always been to preserve these cultural treasures and make them accessible to the community.”

As MoFTA continues to grow, plans include pursuing a professional appraisal, securing a permanent museum space, and expanding public programming—guided by the same commitment to access, education, and responsible stewardship that has defined the collection from the beginning.

For more information: Museum of Fine Tribal Art (MoFTA) – https://mofta.weebly.com