Black Artists on Art: Past, Present, and Future celebrate legendary and contemporary Black artists and the legacy of the "Black Artists on Art" book series.
This group exhibition showcases work by legendary artists Benny Andrews, Romare Bearden, Dumile Feni, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, Samella Lewis, Ruth Waddy, and Charles White; as well as contemporary artists EMONI, Alpha Bruton, Beth Cosetta Rubel, Joha Harrison, Dwight Head, Laurelin Gilmore, Claude Lewis, Keia Kodama, Lee McCormick, Shonna McDaniels, and more.
The Black Artists on Art exhibition series is organized by Unity Lewis, the grandson of the late Dr. Samella Lewis, the artist, historian, author, and educator often referred to as the godmother of Black art. The presentation of Black Artists on Art at the Crocker is the ninth iteration of the series and is unique in its pairing of well-known legends with contemporary and youth artists. The exhibition series takes its name from the "Black Artists on Art" book series, originally published by Dr. Lewis and Ruth Waddy in 1969. It brought attention to the many notable Black artists neglected or overlooked by the mainstream art world.
Alpha Bruton, "My Man" Acrylic on Canvas NFS
Black Artists on Art: Past, Present, and Future
August 11th - October 23rd, 2022
Crocker Art Museum and Black Artists on Art present 'The Past, Present and Future Exhibition,' a group exhibition featuring California-based black artists alongside legendary artists from the original Black Artists on Art book series, published in 1969 by Dr. Samella Lewis and Ruth G. Waddy.
The exhibit celebrates the 53rd anniversary of Black Artists on Art Volume 1 and commences a series of activities that will surround the new books in their development phases.
The exhibit's purpose is to showcase the artists and engage them in a dialogue about the role of Black artists in contemporary society. The exhibition also honors Dr. Samella Lewis and many of the visual artists featured in the original Black Artists on Art books who made such valuable contributions to the Black Arts Movement.
