List of African-American visual artists

Robert Scott Duncanson, Landscape with Rainbow, c. 1859, Hudson River School, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC.

This list of African-American visual artists is a list that includes dates of birth and death of historically recognized African-American fine artists known for the creation of artworks that are primarily visual in nature, including traditional media such as painting, sculpture, photography, and printmaking, as well as more recent genres, including installation art, performance art, body art, conceptual art, video art, and digital art. The entries are in alphabetical order by surname.

Artists

A–B

Scipio Moorhead, Portrait of poet Phillis Wheatley, 1773, in the frontispiece to her book Poems on Various Subjects

Edward Mitchell Bannister, Driving Home the Cows 1881

Harriet Powers, Bible quilt, mixed media, 1886

Henry Ossawa Tanner, Gateway, Tangier, 1912, oil on canvas, 18 7/16" × 15 5/16", St. Louis Art Museum

Charles Alston, Again The Springboard Of Civilization, 1943 (WWII African American soldier)

Larry D. Alexander,Greenville Courthouse, 1998

• Derrick Adams (born 1970), multidisciplinary^[1]
• Terry Adkins (1953–2014), artist^[2]
• Mequitta Ahuja (born 1976), painter, installation artist
• Larry D. Alexander (born 1953), painter
• Laylah Ali (born 1968), painter
• Jules T. Allen (born 1947), photographer
• Tina Allen (1949–2008), sculptor
• Charles Alston (1907–1977), painter^[3][2]
• Amalia Amaki (born 1959), artist
• Emma Amos (born 1938), painter^[3]
• Benny Andrews (1930–2006), painter^[3][2]
• Edgar Arceneaux (born 1972), drawing artist
• Kyle Baker (born 1965), cartoonist
• Matt Baker (1921–1959), comic book artist
• James Presley Ball (1825–1904), photographer
• Henry Bannarn (1910–1965), painter^[2]
• Edward Mitchell Bannister (1828–1901), painter^[3][2]
• Ernie Barnes (1938–2009), neo-Mannerist artist^[3]
• Richmond Barthé (1901–1989), sculptor^[3][2]
• Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988), painter^[3]
• C. M. Battey (1873–1927), photographer
• Romare Bearden (1911–1988), painter^[3][2]
• Arthello Beck (1941–2004), painter
• Arthur P. Bedou (1882–1966), photographer
• Darrin Bell (born 1975), cartoonist
• Mary A. Bell (1873–1941)
• Dawoud Bey (born 1953), photographer^[3]
• John T. Biggers (1924–2001), muralist^[3][2]
• Sanford Biggers (born 1970), interdisciplinary
• Gene Bilbrew (1923–1974), cartoonist and fetish artist
• McArthur Binion (born 1946), painter
• Robert Blackburn (1920–2003), printmaker^[3][2]
• Thomas Blackshear
• Betty Blayton (born 1937), painter, printmaker^[2]
• Chakaia Booker (born 1953), sculptor^[3]
• Charles Boyce (born 1949), cartoonist
• Tina Williams Brewer, fiber artist^[4]
• Michael Bramwell (born 1953), conceptual artist
• Mark Bradford (born 1961)
• Frederick J. Brown (1945–2012), painter^[3]
• Manuelita Brown, sculptor
• Robert Brown (c. 1936–2007), cartoonist
• Beverly Buchanan (born 1940), painter, sculptor^[2]
• Selma Burke (1900–1995), sculptor^[2]
• Calvin Burnett (1921–2007), book illustrator^[2]
• Pauline Powell Burns (1872–1912), painter
• Robert Butler (1943–2014), painter

C–D

• Frank Calloway (born 1915)
• E. Simms Campbell (1906–1971), cartoonist^[2]
• Fred Carter (born 1938), cartoonist
• Bernie Casey (born 1939), painter^[2]
• Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012), sculptor and printmaker^[3][2]
• Nick Cave (born 1959), performance artist
• Michael Ray Charles (born 1967), painter^[3]
• Barbara Chase-Riboud (born 1936), sculptor^[2]
• Claude Clark (1915–2001), painter and printmaker^[3]
• Edward Clark (born 1926), painter
• Sonya Clark (born 1967), textile and multimedia artist
• Willie Cole (born 1955), painter^[3]
• Robert Colescott (1925–2009), painter^[3]
• Eldzier Cortor (1916–2015), artist and printmaker^[2]
• Ernest Crichlow (1914–2005), social realist artist^[2]
• Allan Crite (1910–2007), painter^{[3] [2]}
• Emilio Cruz (1938–2004), painter^[3]
• Michael Cummings (born 1945), textile artist
• Ulysses Davis (1913–1990), sculptor^[3]
• Bing Davis (born 1937), potter and graphic artist^[2]
• Roy DeCarava (1919–2009), photographer^[3]
• Beauford Delaney (1901–1979), painter^[5]
• Joseph Delaney (1904–1991)^[3]
• Louis Delsarte (born 1944), artist^[2]
• Thornton Dial (born 1928)^[3]
• Terry Dixon (born 1969), painter and multimedia artist
• Jeff Donaldson (born 1932), painter and critic
• Aaron Douglas (1899–1979), painter^[3][2]
• Emory Douglas (born 1943), Black Panther artist
• David C. Driskell (born 1931), artist and scholar
• Robert Scott Duncanson (1821–1872), Hudson River School^[3][2]

E–H

• William Edmondson (1874–1951), folk art sculptor^[3][2]
• Mel Edwards (born 1937), sculptor^[3][2]
• Walter Ellison (1899–1977), painter^[3]
• Minnie Evans (1892–1987), folk artist^{[3] [2]}
• Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller (1877–1968), artist^[3][2]
• Ellen Gallagher (born 1965)^[3]
• Theaster Gates (born 1973), sculptor, ceramicist, and performance artist
• Herbert Gentry (1919–2003), painter
• Wilda Gerideau-Squires (born 1946), photographer
• Leah Gilliam (born 1967), media artist and filmmaker
• Sam Gilliam (born 1933), painter^{[3] [2]}
• Graham Goddard (born 1982), conceptual artist
• Russell T. Gordon (born 1936), printmaker^[3]
• Billy Graham (1935–1999), comic book artist
• Lonnie Graham, photographer and installation artist
• Deborah Grant (born 1968), painter
• Todd Gray (born 1954), photographer, installation and performance artist
• Leamon Green (born 1959)
• Renee Green (born 1959), installation artist^[3]
• Mario Gully, comic book artist
• Tyree Guyton (born 1955)^[3]
• Ed Hamilton (born 1947), sculptor
• Patrick Earl Hammie (born 1981), painter
• David Hammons (born 1943), artist^[3]
• Trenton Doyle Hancock (born 1974)^[3]
• Edwin Harleston (1882–1931), painter
• Elise Forrest Harleston (1891–1970), photographer
• Kira Lynn Harris (born 1963), multidisciplinary^[6]
• John Wesley Hardrick (1891–1948), painter^{[3] [2]}
• Jerry Harris (born 1945), sculptor
• Lawrence Harris, painter
• Marren Hassenger (born 1947), sculptor, installation, performance^[7]
• Palmer Hayden (1893–1973), painter^[3][2]
• Barkley Hendricks (born 1945), painter
• George Herriman (1880–1944), cartoonist^[3]
• Alvin Hollingsworth (1928–2000), illustrator, painter
• Bryce Hudson (born 1979), painter, sculptor^[3]
• Julien Hudson (1811–1844), painter, sculptor^[3]
• David Huffman (born 1963), painter^[8]
• Richard Hunt (born 1935), sculptor^[3][2]
• Cairo M. Hunter (born 1990), painter, graphic designer, illustrator^[3][2]
• Clementine Hunter (1886/7–1988), folk artist^[3][2]

J–O

• Steffani Jemison (born 1981), performance artist, video artist

• Wadsworth Jarrell (born 1929), painter, sculptor
• Annette P. Jimerson (born 1966), painter
• Joshua Johnson (c.1763–c.1824), portrait painter and folk artist^[3][2]
• Malvin Gray Johnson (1896–1934), painter^[2]
• Rashid Johnson (born 1977), conceptual artist
• Sargent Johnson (1888–1967), sculptor^{[3] [2]}
• William H. Johnson (1902–1970)^[3][2]
• Ben Jones (born 1941), installation artist^[3]
• Calvin B. Jones (1934-2010), painter, muralist
• Jennie C. Jones (born 1968), multidisciplinary
• Lois Mailou Jones (1905–1998), painter^[3][2]
• Luther Jones (born 1944), sculptor^[3]
• Titus Kaphar (born 1976), painter^[9]
• Gwendolyn Knight (1914–2005), artist^[2]
• Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000), painter^[3][2]
• Deana Lawson (born 1979), photographer^[10]
• Hughie Lee-Smith (1915–1999), artist^[3][2]
• Edmonia Lewis (c. 1843–1879), artist^[3][2]
• Norman Lewis (1909–1979), painter^[3][2]
• Glenn Ligon (born 1960), painter^[3]
• Llanakila, artist, painter, digital illustrator, and digital artist
• Edward L. Loper, Sr. (1916–2011), painter
• Whitfield Lovell (born 1960), artist
• Gwendolyn Ann Magee (1943–2011), artist, quilter^[11]
• Clarence Major (born 1936), painter
• Kerry James Marshall (born 1955), painter^[3]
• Eugene J. Martin (1938–2005), painter
• Valerie Maynard (born 1937), sculptor, printmaker, painter
• Ealy Mays (born 1959), painter
• Howard McCalebb (born 1947), artist
• Corky McCoy, illustrator
• Charles McGill (born 1964), artist, educator
• Julie Mehretu (born 1970), painter, printmaker
• Dean Mitchell (born 1957), painter
• Scipio Moorhead (active 1770s), painter^[2]
• Archibald Motley (1891–1981), painter^[3][2]
• Gus Nall, painter
• Harold Newton (1934–1994), artist
• Lorraine O'Grady (born 1934), conceptual artist
• Turtel Onli (born 1952), cartoonist
• Jackie Ormes (1911–1985), cartoonist
• John Outterbridge (born 1933), assemblage artist^[3][2]
• Joe Overstreet (born 1933), artist^[2]

P–S

• Gordon Parks (1912–2006), photographer, director^[3][2]
• Earle M. Pilgrim (1923–1976), artist
• Howardena Pindell (born 1943), painter^[3]
• Jerry Pinkney (born 1939), illustrator^[3]
• Adrian Piper (born 1948), conceptual artist^[3]
• Rose Piper (born 1917)^[3]
• Horace Pippin (1888–1946), painter^[3][2]
• P. H. Polk (1898–1984), photographer
• Carl Robert Pope (born 1961), photographer^[3]
• William Pope.L (born 1955) conceptual artist
• Harriet Powers (1837–1910), folk artist^[3]
• Martin Puryear (born 1941), sculptor^[3][2]
• Patrick H. Reason (1816–1898)
• Earle Wilton Richardson (1912–1935), artist^[2]
• Faith Ringgold (born 1930), painter^[3][2]
• Haywood Rivers (1922–2001), painter
• Arthur Rose Sr. (1921–1995), multidisciplinary
• Bayeté Ross Smith (born 1976), photographer
• Sandra Rowe, painter^[3]
• Alison Saar (born 1956), artist^[3][2]
• Betye Saar (born 1926), artist^[3][2]
• Lezley Saar (born 1953), assemblage artist^[3]
• Charles Sallee (1923–2006), painter^[3]
• Raymond Saunders, painter^[2]
• Augusta Savage (1892–1962), sculptor^[3][2]
• John T. Scott (1940–2007), artist
• Joyce J. Scott (born 1948), sculptor^[3]
• Lorenzo Scott (born 1934), painter
• William Edouard Scott (1884–1964), painter^[3][2]
• Charles Sebree (1914–1985), painter^[3][2]
• Thomas Sills (1914–2000), painter
• Gary Simmons (born 1964), artist
• Lorna Simpson (born 1960), artist^[3]
• Merton Simpson (1928–2013), painter
• William Simpson (1818–1872), portrait painter^[2]
• Cauleen Smith (born 1967), filmmaker
• Leslie Smith III (born 1985), painter
• Gilda Snowden (1954–2014)^[3]
• Raymond Steth (1916–1997)^[3]
• Renee Stout (born 1958), artist^[3]
• Martine Syms (born 1988), artist

T–Z

• Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859–1937), artist^[3][2]
• Margaret Taylor-Burroughs (1915–2010)^[3][2]
• Alma Thomas (1891–1978), painter^{[3] [2]}
• Mickalene Thomas (born 1971), painter and installation artist
• Bob Thompson (1937–1966), painter^[3][2]
• Mildred Thompson (1935–2003), abstract painter, printmaker and sculptor
• Dox Thrash (1892–1962), printmaker, sculptor^{[3] [2]}
• Bill Traylor (1856–1949)^[3][2]
• Henry Taylor (born 1958) painter
• Morrie Turner (1923–2014), cartoonist
• James Van Der Zee (1886–1983), photographer^{[3] [2]}
• Kara Walker (born 1969), artist^{[3] [2]}
• William Walker (1927–2011), Chicago muralist
• Laura Wheeler Waring (1887–1948), painter^[3][2]
• E. M. Washington (born 1962), printmaker and counterfeiter
• James W. Washington, Jr. (1908–2000), painter and sculptor^[2]
• Carrie Mae Weems (born 1953), photographer^[3]
• Pheoris West
• Charles Wilbert White (1918–1979), muralist^[3][2]
• Jack Whitten (born 1939), painter
• Kehinde Wiley (born 1977), painter
• William T. Williams (born 1942), painter^[2]
• Deborah Willis (born 1948), photographer
• Ellis Wilson (1899–1977), painter^[3][2]
• Fred Wilson (born 1954), conceptual artist
• John Wilson (born 1922), sculptor^[3][2]
• Beulah Woodard (1895–1955), sculptor
• Hale Woodruff (1900–1980), painter^[3][2]
• Richard Yarde (1939–2011), watercolorist
• Joseph Yoakum (1890–1972), self-taught landscape artist
• Purvis Young (1943–2010), artist

Artist groups

• The Highwaymen
• AfriCOBRA
• Where We At

See also

• Harlem Renaissance
• African-American art
• The Quilts of Gees Bend
• Black Arts Movement
• List of American artists before 1900
• List of American artists 1900 and after

References

1. Smith, Roberta (2014). "Derrick Adams: ‘Live and in Color’". The New York Times (October 9). Retrieved April 2, 2015.
2. See the entry in Macklin, A. D., A Biographical History of African-American Artists. The Edwin Mellen Press; 2001. ISBN 0-7734-7676-8
3. Listed in the Chronological listing of African-American artists at ArtCyclopedia
4. Shaw, Kurt (7 September 2014). "Homewood Artist's 'Fragments' Looks at Cultures in Our World". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved 30 March 2016 – via EBSCO. (subscription required (help)).
5. David Leeming, Amazing Grace: A Life of Beauford Delaney, Oxford University Press; 1998. ISBN 0-19-509784-X
6. "The Artist’s Voice: Kira Lynn Harris In Conversation with Lauren Haynes". The Studio Museum in Harlem. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
7. "Maren Hassinger". YBCA. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
8. Murray, Derek Conrad (2012). "David Huffman". Art in America. April 6. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
9. "Titus Kaphar's Time Magazine Commission". International Review of African American Art. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
10. "Deana Lawson". Lewis Center for the Arts. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
11. Moye, Dorothy, "Lift Every Voice and Sing: The Quilts of Gwendolyn Ann Magee" Southern Spaces, September 11, 2014.