Art by Black Artists, Made before 1960

This collection brings together 14 works by Black artists created before 1960, highlighting the vital but historically underrepresented contributions of African American artists to the broader story of American art. Spanning painting, sculpture, drawing, and printmaking, these works reflect the artistic achievements of Black creators working through and against the constraints of segregation, discrimination, and exclusion from mainstream art institutions. From portraiture and landscape to abstraction and social commentary, each work affirms the depth, sophistication, and enduring significance of Black artistic expression in America.