Artist Report: Jacob Lawrence

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Artist Report: Jacob Lawrence
The Builders (1974), on Serigraph print, 34 1/8 in x 25 3/4 in, Park Place Middle School-Monroe Artist Biography             Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) was a renowned 20^th-century artist celebrated for his epic depiction of African-American history and its diverse narratives including the minority group’s quest for social justice (Washington State Arts Commission). He was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1917 to Southern migrants who would later flee the rural South to the Northeastern cities in the 1930s (Museum of Modern Arts (MoMA)). At the age of 13 years Jacob Lawrence and his family, mother and sister, moved to Harlem where he was raised to become an acclaimed and celebrated artist of the 20^th century (Museum of Modern Arts (MoMA)). He discovered and developed his love for art by participating in community art workshops in Harlem. Jacob’s progress was greatly influenced by one of the painters in the community art workshops, Charles Alston, with the inspiration for his art stemming from the creative cultural aspects highlighted during the Harlem Renaissance (Washington State Arts Commission). The Harlem Renaissance and Jacob’s neighborhood offered the cultural inspiration for most of his remarkable works earning him recognition in the world of art (Museum of Modern Arts (MoMA)). He gained national recognition at the age of 23 years through The Migration Series created in 1940 after the Rosenwald Foundation gave him a grant to create the art project (Museum of Modern Arts (MoMA)). The project’s exhibition at Edith Halpert’s Downtown Gallery in 1941 earned him national recognition in the field of art. He further became the first African American to be represented in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City (Museum of Modern Arts (MoMA)).  Art Movement Jacob Lawrence created most of his works based on the observed experiences of the African American community during the 20^th century as well as the characteristic historical events and occurrences of the mid-20^th century (Museum of Modern Arts (MoMA)). Common themes in his art included civil rights, social justice, religion, and even war as inspired by his participation in the Second World War (Was...