Jacob Lawrence

Jacob Lawrence, born on September seventh, nineteen seventeen, was a prominent American painter celebrated for his vivid portrayals of African-American historical subjects and contemporary life. His unique artistic style, which he termed 'dynamic cubism,' drew inspiration from both West African and Meso-American art, as well as the vibrant everyday life of Harlem.

Lawrence's work is characterized by a striking use of blacks and browns juxtaposed with vivid colors, bringing the African-American experience to life in a way that resonated deeply with audiences. He gained national recognition at the young age of twenty-three with his groundbreaking sixty-panel series, The Migration Series, which illustrated the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. This influential series was jointly acquired by the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Throughout his career, Lawrence became one of the most recognized twentieth-century African-American painters, known for his modernist interpretations of everyday life and narratives of African-American history. His works are housed in the permanent collections of numerous prestigious institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Brooklyn Museum, among others. Notably, his painting The Builders from nineteen forty-seven is displayed in the White House.

In addition to his artistic contributions, Lawrence dedicated sixteen years to teaching as a professor at the University of Washington, influencing a new generation of artists and continuing to share the rich narratives of African-American culture through his work.