African American African American ArtistsArtists

Palmer HaydenPalmer Hayden

(1890-1973)(1890-1973)

Palmer Hayden was born Peyton Palmer Hayden was born Peyton Cole Hedgeman in 1890 in Cole Hedgeman in 1890 in Widewater, Virginia. Hayden Widewater, Virginia. Hayden specialized in depicting African specialized in depicting African American Folklore through art. He American Folklore through art. He spent ten years on a single series for spent ten years on a single series for African American folk hero, John African American folk hero, John Henry. Henry.

The Janitor Who Paints, Palmer The Janitor Who Paints, Palmer HaydenHayden

Henry Ossawa TannerHenry Ossawa Tanner

(1859-1937)(1859-1937)

Henry Tanner was born into a deeply Henry Tanner was born into a deeply religious family in Pittsburg, PA in 1859. religious family in Pittsburg, PA in 1859. Tanner’s father, a Methodist Episcopal Tanner’s father, a Methodist Episcopal bishop, wanted his son to follow in his bishop, wanted his son to follow in his ministerial footsteps, but Tanner had ministerial footsteps, but Tanner had already been inspired by both racial already been inspired by both racial injustice and artists such as, Edmonia injustice and artists such as, Edmonia Lewis and Edward Bannister. Tanner died Lewis and Edward Bannister. Tanner died an accepted and honored painter in 1937. an accepted and honored painter in 1937.

The Banjo Lesson, Henry Ossawa TannerThe Banjo Lesson, Henry Ossawa Tanner

The Annunciation, Henry Ossawa TannerThe Annunciation, Henry Ossawa Tanner

Charles AlstonCharles Alston

(1907-1977)(1907-1977)

Charles Alston was born in Charolette, NC Charles Alston was born in Charolette, NC in 1907. Alston’s father was a respected in 1907. Alston’s father was a respected Episcopal minister, who died before Alston Episcopal minister, who died before Alston was three years old. Alston studied art at was three years old. Alston studied art at Columbia University and New York University Columbia University and New York University and later became an illustrator, graphic artist, and later became an illustrator, graphic artist, sculptor, painter, and muralist. He also spent sculptor, painter, and muralist. He also spent time teaching art a variety of places including time teaching art a variety of places including as a professor at the City University of New as a professor at the City University of New York.York.

Girl in a Red Dress, Charles AlstonGirl in a Red Dress, Charles Alston

Aaron DouglasAaron Douglas

(1898-1979)(1898-1979)Aaron Douglas was born in 1898 Aaron Douglas was born in 1898

in Kansas. Douglas received a degree in Kansas. Douglas received a degree from the University of Nebraska and from the University of Nebraska and taught in Kansas City schools for a taught in Kansas City schools for a while. Douglas found the majority of while. Douglas found the majority of inspiration for his work in African art. inspiration for his work in African art. Douglas became part of the Harlem Douglas became part of the Harlem Renaissance or the “New Negro Renaissance or the “New Negro Movement.”Movement.”

Boy with Toy Plane, Aaron DouglasBoy with Toy Plane, Aaron Douglas

William H. JohnsonWilliam H. Johnson

(1901-1970)(1901-1970)

William Henry Johnson was born in 1901 William Henry Johnson was born in 1901 in Florence, SC. Johnson taught himself to in Florence, SC. Johnson taught himself to draw by coping cartoons and eventually draw by coping cartoons and eventually enrolled himself in the National Academy of enrolled himself in the National Academy of Design where he furthered his skills. His work Design where he furthered his skills. His work has been very much influenced by the has been very much influenced by the European Expressionist artists. Johnson used European Expressionist artists. Johnson used distorted lines, shapes, and exaggerated distorted lines, shapes, and exaggerated colors to relay an inner vision rather than a colors to relay an inner vision rather than a direct representation. direct representation.

Children Playing London Bridge, William H. JohnsonChildren Playing London Bridge, William H. Johnson

Hughie Lee-SmithHughie Lee-Smith

(1915-200)(1915-200)

Hughie Lee-Smith was born in 1915 Hughie Lee-Smith was born in 1915 in Eustis, Florida. He graduated from the in Eustis, Florida. He graduated from the Cleveland School of the Arts with honors, Cleveland School of the Arts with honors, studying dance, theater, and visual arts. studying dance, theater, and visual arts. Lee-Smith’s paintings portray African Lee-Smith’s paintings portray African American life as survival in the midst of American life as survival in the midst of senseless neglect. He is known for using a senseless neglect. He is known for using a surrealistic style to explore concerns with surrealistic style to explore concerns with urban life and its decay. urban life and its decay.

Boy with Tire, Hughie Lee-SmithBoy with Tire, Hughie Lee-Smith

Elizabeth CatlettElizabeth Catlett

(1915-)(1915-)

Elizabeth Catlett was born in 1915. Elizabeth Catlett was born in 1915. Catlett, who has become a printmaker and a Catlett, who has become a printmaker and a sculptor was denied admission to Carnegie sculptor was denied admission to Carnegie Institute of Technology due to racial Institute of Technology due to racial discrimination so she attended Howard discrimination so she attended Howard University and graduated with honors in her University and graduated with honors in her painting major. She was the first person to painting major. She was the first person to earn a M.F.A from the University of Iowa in earn a M.F.A from the University of Iowa in 1940. She has done over 50 solo shows of 1940. She has done over 50 solo shows of her own work and continues to make art. her own work and continues to make art. Influenced by Kathe Kollwitz.Influenced by Kathe Kollwitz.

Harriet, Elizabeth Catlett

Jacob Lawrence Jacob Lawrence

(1917-2000)(1917-2000)Jacob Lawrence, a twentieth-century Jacob Lawrence, a twentieth-century

painter, was born in 1917 and is known for painter, was born in 1917 and is known for his well-researched historical narratives of his well-researched historical narratives of urban life in the African American urban life in the African American Community. Lawrence’s mentor, Charles Community. Lawrence’s mentor, Charles Alston noticed Lawrence’s talent at a young Alston noticed Lawrence’s talent at a young age in a Harlem community center and age in a Harlem community center and encouraged him to pursue a career in the encouraged him to pursue a career in the arts. His style is defined by tempera arts. His style is defined by tempera painting techniques combined with precise painting techniques combined with precise geometric compositions. geometric compositions.

Brownstones, Jacob LawrenceBrownstones, Jacob Lawrence

Romare BeardenRomare Bearden

(1911-1988)(1911-1988)

Romare Bearden was a painter, Romare Bearden was a painter, printmaker, and collage artist born in printmaker, and collage artist born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1911. Growing Charlotte, North Carolina in 1911. Growing up in Harlem with prominent parents in the up in Harlem with prominent parents in the community, Bearden was exposed to jazz, community, Bearden was exposed to jazz, literature, and art at a young age. His literature, and art at a young age. His collages were complex comprised of complex collages were complex comprised of complex layers, full of geometry, color, and textures. layers, full of geometry, color, and textures. His collages expressed his memories of urban His collages expressed his memories of urban life in Harlem, New York. life in Harlem, New York.

Morning, Romare BeardenMorning, Romare Bearden

Edmonia LewisEdmonia Lewis

(1844-1904)(1844-1904)

Edmonia Lewis was born in 1844 to Edmonia Lewis was born in 1844 to an Native American Mother and African an Native American Mother and African American Father. She traveled to Boston, American Father. She traveled to Boston, Massachusetts hoping to study music, but Massachusetts hoping to study music, but was inspired to begin sculpting by a statue was inspired to begin sculpting by a statue of Benjamin Franklin. In 1865 she traveled of Benjamin Franklin. In 1865 she traveled to Italy where she studied sculpture and to Italy where she studied sculpture and eventually opened her own studio in eventually opened her own studio in Rome. Rome.

Death of Cleopatra, Edmonia LewisDeath of Cleopatra, Edmonia Lewis

Kara WalkerKara Walker

(1969-)(1969-)

Kara Walker was born in 1969 in Kara Walker was born in 1969 in Stockton, California. She received a Stockton, California. She received a Bachelors in Fine Arts from the Atlanta Bachelors in Fine Arts from the Atlanta College of Art in 1991 and her Master’s in College of Art in 1991 and her Master’s in Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1994. She is best known for her Design in 1994. She is best known for her work with black, cut-out silhouettes work with black, cut-out silhouettes organized to portray various themes of organized to portray various themes of power, repression, and race. power, repression, and race.

Skidmore College Collage 2003, Kara WalkerSkidmore College Collage 2003, Kara Walker

Kerry James MarshallKerry James Marshall

(1955-)(1955-)Kerry James Marshall was born in Kerry James Marshall was born in

1955, in Birmingham, Alabama. He 1955, in Birmingham, Alabama. He received his degree from the Otis Art received his degree from the Otis Art Institute in Los Angles. The themes Institute in Los Angles. The themes and subjects of his paintings and and subjects of his paintings and installations are generally related to installations are generally related to African American pop-culture. He African American pop-culture. He feels that he is fulfilling his “social feels that he is fulfilling his “social responsibility” through his art. responsibility” through his art.

Vignette #2, Kerry James MarshallVignette #2, Kerry James Marshall