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As a black artist Im tired of learning about dead white artists.
As a black artist I’m SICK of learning about white artists whose whole career COMPLETELY ignored the death and destruction of their fellow (black)humans.
A Black Artists Thread: Black Artists in the 20th Century
As a black artist I’m SICK of learning about white artists whose whole career COMPLETELY ignored the death and destruction of their fellow (black)humans.
A Black Artists Thread: Black Artists in the 20th Century
This is a 3 part thread series. This is only what I’ve learned thus far and I want to share with all of you. If you having anything to add please do. This also a general overview of these artists to encourage you to go find out more.
Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage was one of the most influential artists and educators of the Harlem Renaissance. Working in plaster, which was then painted to resemble bronze, Savage is best known for her sensitive and skillful modeling of the human figure.
Augusta Savage was one of the most influential artists and educators of the Harlem Renaissance. Working in plaster, which was then painted to resemble bronze, Savage is best known for her sensitive and skillful modeling of the human figure.
Elizabeth Catlett
Catlett highlighted the struggle of black people with her art by depicting sharecroppers and activists. “I have always wanted my art to service my people—to reflect us, to relate to us, to stimulate us, to make us aware of our potential”
Catlett highlighted the struggle of black people with her art by depicting sharecroppers and activists. “I have always wanted my art to service my people—to reflect us, to relate to us, to stimulate us, to make us aware of our potential”
Gordon Parks
Gordon Parks was a self-taught photographer, writer, composer, and filmmaker. Parks is remembered as the first African American photographer who worked for Vogue and Life magazines, best known for his documentary photojournalism of the 1940s through 1970s.
Gordon Parks was a self-taught photographer, writer, composer, and filmmaker. Parks is remembered as the first African American photographer who worked for Vogue and Life magazines, best known for his documentary photojournalism of the 1940s through 1970s.
Barkley Hendricks
“Barkley L. Hendricks was an African-American painter known for his photo-based portraits of black men and women. Conveying a sensitivity towards the unique persona of each sitter, his works are both matter-of-fact and culturally pointed.” Artnet
“Barkley L. Hendricks was an African-American painter known for his photo-based portraits of black men and women. Conveying a sensitivity towards the unique persona of each sitter, his works are both matter-of-fact and culturally pointed.” Artnet
Jacob Lawrence
Lawrence documented the African American experience in several series devoted to life in Harlem and the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He was one of the first nationally recognized African American artists.
Lawrence documented the African American experience in several series devoted to life in Harlem and the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He was one of the first nationally recognized African American artists.
Kerry James Marshall
“Through narrative scenes that draw both from history and the artist’s own life, Marshall delves into obscure moments and objects important to contemporary and past black culture.” Artnet
“Through narrative scenes that draw both from history and the artist’s own life, Marshall delves into obscure moments and objects important to contemporary and past black culture.” Artnet
Norman Lewis
“I wanted to be above criticism, so that my work didn't have to be discussed in terms of the fact that I'm black,” Lewis emerged as the sole black artist in the first generation of Abstract Expressionists.
“I wanted to be above criticism, so that my work didn't have to be discussed in terms of the fact that I'm black,” Lewis emerged as the sole black artist in the first generation of Abstract Expressionists.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
This Brooklyn native was self-taught and entered the art scene as a graffiti artist. He garnered mainstream attention with his quirky personality and edgy expressionist style, which incorporated a combination of text, tags, figures and disconnected patterns
This Brooklyn native was self-taught and entered the art scene as a graffiti artist. He garnered mainstream attention with his quirky personality and edgy expressionist style, which incorporated a combination of text, tags, figures and disconnected patterns
Romare Bearden
“You should always respect what you are and your culture because if your art is going to mean anything, that is where it comes from,”
“You should always respect what you are and your culture because if your art is going to mean anything, that is where it comes from,”
Edmonia Lewis
“Born circa 1844, she was a free woman of color during the Civil War. Raised by her mother's Chippewa tribe after being orphaned at the age of 4, she was able to become America's first African American sculptor of note.”-Yale
“Born circa 1844, she was a free woman of color during the Civil War. Raised by her mother's Chippewa tribe after being orphaned at the age of 4, she was able to become America's first African American sculptor of note.”-Yale
James Van Der Zee
“James Van Der Zee was an African-American photographer known for his distinctive portraits from the Harlem Renaissance. The artist used photography as a means not only to celebrate black culture but also provided his sitter’s with a feeling of pride.”-Artnet
“James Van Der Zee was an African-American photographer known for his distinctive portraits from the Harlem Renaissance. The artist used photography as a means not only to celebrate black culture but also provided his sitter’s with a feeling of pride.”-Artnet
E. Simms Campbell
Campbell became the first African American to have his work syndicated nationwide. King Features published his comic strip, Cuties, in more than 140 newspapers around the country.
Campbell became the first African American to have his work syndicated nationwide. King Features published his comic strip, Cuties, in more than 140 newspapers around the country.
Horace Pippin
After World War I, Pippin, who had no formal art training, wrote and illustrated memoirs of his combat experience where he lost the full use of his arm.
After World War I, Pippin, who had no formal art training, wrote and illustrated memoirs of his combat experience where he lost the full use of his arm.
David Hammons
By bridging the societal lines between the predominantly white sphere of fine art and the history of oppression, degradation, and cultural slavery of people of color, Hammons critiques and exposes stereotypes within the art world with razor-sharp precision
By bridging the societal lines between the predominantly white sphere of fine art and the history of oppression, degradation, and cultural slavery of people of color, Hammons critiques and exposes stereotypes within the art world with razor-sharp precision
Betye Saar
Betye Saar is an American artist known for assemblage and collage works. With a found-object process, Saar explores both the realities of African-American oppression and the mysticism of symbols through the combination of everyday objects.
Betye Saar is an American artist known for assemblage and collage works. With a found-object process, Saar explores both the realities of African-American oppression and the mysticism of symbols through the combination of everyday objects.
I hope whomever is reading this discovers some new artists and look deeper into their work. My next thread will be more about living artists and the influence of Black Art.
