Synopsis Kerry James Marshall (born October 17, 1955) is an American artist born in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up in South Central Los Angeles and now lives in Chicago, Illinois, where he previously taught at the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a 1978 graduate of Otis College of Art and Design. Continue reading Profile: Kerry James Marshall
Synopsis Born on June 29, 1886, in Lenox, Massachusetts, James Van Der Zee developed a passion for photography as a youth, and opened up his own Harlem studio in 1916. Van Der Zee became known for his detailed imagery of African-American life, and for capturing celebrities such as Florence Mills and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Following hard financial times, Van Der Zee enjoyed a resurge … Continue reading Profile: James Van Der Zee
Synopsis Faith Ringgold was born in New York City in 1930. While working as an art teacher in public schools, she began a series of paintings called American People, which portrayed the civil rights movement from a female perspective. In the 1970s, she created African-style masks, painted political posters and actively sought the racial integration of the New York art world. During the 1980s, she … Continue reading Profile: Faith Ringgold
Synopsis Born on July 8, 1902, in Giddings, Texas, Gwendolyn Bennett found success as a poet, fiction writer and journalist during the Harlem Renaissance with publications like The Crisis, New Negro and Opportunity. A visual artist as well, she later headed educational programs for the local African-American community. Having also worked in antiques with her second spouse, she died in Pennsylvania on May 30, 1981. … Continue reading Profile: Gwendolyn Bennett
Black Art Story 