In honor of Black History Month, here are some black artists who have and continue to make monumental contributions to the art world.
Kara Walker is a contemporary American artist who is known for exploring concepts of race, gender, and identity in her work. She is known for her silhouette installations that depict different scenes and narratives. Her scenes are set in the American south, prior to the Civil War and play off of stereotypes and life on a plantation. Her work aims to allow the viewer to reflect on the past and analyze modern racial and gender stereotypes.
Henry Ossawa Tanner was born in 1859 in Pennsylvania and died in Paris at the age of 77. He is known for his religious paintings that reflect his spiritual upbringing as the son of a minister. His paintings also depicted daily aspects of life. He was the first black artist that was internationally recognized for his work and he was elected the chevalier of the Legion of Honor, which is the highest award of merit in France.
Faith Ringgold is an American painter and mixed media sculptor. She is best known for her narrative quilts. She was born in Harlem and was surrounded and influenced by the Harlem Renaissance. At an early age, she was encouraged to express her creativity, which led to her developing an interest in art. Ringgold created her quilts in order to tell about her life experiences as a part of feminist and anti-racist organizations, since at the time publishers refused to publish her autobiography.