As someone with a master's in art history, I learned a lot about European art. That seems to be the "preferred" region for studying art and culture, despite there being, you know...other parts of the world. Don't get me wrong, Europe has produced stunning pieces of art, and as someone who is of European descent, it's nice to look at artwork made by people where my ancestors are from. But what about people who don't have European ancestry?
I was lucky that the programs I enrolled in offered courses on non-white artwork, so I was exposed to the beauty of art in the Middle East, post-apartheid South Africa, China, India, Japan, South America, and Central America. But these courses were few in number, and still—the focus of most art history departments is to talk about the "greats", like David, Géricault, Picasso, Van Gogh, etc., the white male artists of history. Their art is certainly beautiful, but there is far more art out there that's just as beautiful, and just as important to talk about.
I wanted to provide the first of several lists to follow of just a few prominent Black artists, mostly from the 20th century. For more recent/present-day artists, go check out the Instagram account @cocoagallery; they feature beautiful paintings made by Black artists who are working today.
So, without further ado, here's a list of Black artists you absolutely should know about:
Kara Walker (b. 1969)
One of my favorite artists is the brilliant Kara Walker; her work confronts the horrors of American slavery so there's no way the audience (especially a white audience) can escape it. She tells a story of the African American experience in a way that's not only haunting, but powerful.
Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000)
Lawrence was a painter who beautifully portrayed the Great Migration, and is known for his 'War Series' that he created based on his experience serving in World War II. His works are typically bright and colorful, but full of anguish and sadness, triumph and community. This duality is striking to take in, and shows the genius behind his art.
Faith Ringgold (b. 1930)
Ringgold is perhaps most well-known for her series 'American People', centered around the Civil Rights movement. Look at her paintings Neighbors, Die, and The Flag Is Bleeding as examples from this series. She is also well-known for creating painted "story-quilts", as shown in the picture above.
Augusta Savage (1892-1962)
Savage was a sculptor and Civil Rights activist who made busts of well-known African Americans like W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey. She was a prominent artist of the Harlem Renaissance and eventually showed her work at the Grand Palais (after previously being rejected to study art in France because of her race).
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988)
I had the privilege of seeing Basquiat's work in London, and was blown away at actually seeing his work in-person for the first time. You're submerged in the bright colors and patterns that are loud, proud, and impossible to ignore. He died at the young age of 27 due to a drug overdose, but the influence of his art continues to this day in modern culture.
Keep your eye out for future lists of Black artists you should know about, and do some research on your own, too. I've linked videos on each of the artist's names to get just a glimpse into their artistic process and who they were—definitely make time to watch and learn!
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