Celebrate Black History Month with Art!!

February is Black History Month, and what a better way to celebrate it than learning about some great art! This post features 5 famous Black artists, with three interesting facts listed about each of them, and an image of one of their famous artworks. You can learn more about each artist if you wish, by clicking on their name below their artwork pictured. Which one is your favorite?

Alma Thomas, (1891-1978), known for her brightly colored collage work. Image pictured above, Snoopy-Early Sun Display on Earth, 1970.

-She was an art teacher in the Washington D.C. school district for 35 years.

-Her first solo art exhibit was in 1966, when she was 75 years old!

-She was the first African-American woman to have her art purchased for the White House collection, a painting entitled, Resurrection.

Romare Bearden, 1911-1988. Known for his artwork of colorful collages with photographs and painted papers. Image pictured above, Out Chorus, 1979.

-He served for a time in the US Army during World War II on the European front.

-He helped establish and was a founding member of the Studio Museum in Harlem.

-He also wrote songs and music and was the co-author of the jazz classic, Sea Breeze.

Faith Ringgold, 1920-2024. Known for her vibrant paintings and narrative quilts.

Image pictured above, The Sunflowers Quilting Bee at Arles, 1996.

-Her early work focused on Civil Rights and the Women's Movement.

-Her art is featured in the well-known children's book that she also wrote, Tar Beach.

-She also produced and designed costumes for stage productions and performances.

Jacob Lawrence, (1917-2000). Known for his social-realistic paintings of African American experiences. Image pictured above, The Migration Series, 1940-41.

-He taught as a professor for 16 years at the University of Washington.

-His painting, The Builders, was purchased as part of the White House collection.

-He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1990 by President George Bush.

Amy Sherald, (1973-present). Portrait painter known for her realistic portraits. Image pictured above, First Lady Michelle Obama, 2018.

-In 2018 she was selected by Michelle Obama to paint her portrait as an official commission for the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C.(see image above).

-She often paints her portraits using a greyscale, or "grisaille" skin tone on the subjects.

-In 2016, became the first woman, as well as the first African-American, to win the coveted National Portrait Gallery's Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition.

The portrait above inspired a very precious photograph that went viral, and in turn, led to a children's book as well! Click here to watch the touching NBC news story.

If you would like to help celebrate the important of Black History Month and learn about more inspirational African American artists, click here on the National Gallery of Art website.