Celebrating Black History Month Through Art and Storytelling
We’re shining a spotlight on the powerful ways Black artists and storytellers have shaped history and continue to inspire the world today this February!
Let’s carry the lessons, inspiration, and beauty of Black creativity with us every day, ensuring that these voices and stories remain at the heart of our collective cultural experience.
*** Art as a Reflection of Black History
From the Harlem Renaissance to contemporary movements, Black artists have used their work to express identity, struggle, joy, and resilience. Visionaries like Jacob Lawrence, whose “Migration Series” captured the Great Migration’s impact, and Faith Ringgold, whose vibrant story quilts merge art with narrative, have given voice to Black experiences through visual storytelling.
*** The Power of Representation
Representation in art and media matters—it shapes how we see ourselves and how history is remembered. Films like Black Panther, shows like Insecure, and the rise of Black creatives in all areas of media have brought new levels of visibility and pride to Black culture. These stories not only entertain but also educate and empower, making space for more authentic and diverse narratives.
*** Storytelling as a Legacy
Oral traditions have been a cornerstone of Black culture for centuries, keeping history alive through spoken word, music, and literature. Writers like Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Maya Angelou crafted stories that revealed deep truths about race, identity, and the human experience. More recently, authors like Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jesmyn Ward, and Jason Reynolds continue this tradition, ensuring that Black voices remain at the forefront of literature and social commentary.
Today, artists like Kehinde Wiley, Kara Walker, and Amy Sherald continue to challenge perceptions, celebrate Black identity, and redefine the art world with bold, meaningful pieces that speak to the past, present, and future.
-- Jacob Lawrence
A social realist, Lawrence documented the African American experience in several series devoted to Toussaint L'Ouverture, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, life in Harlem, and the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He was one of the first nationally recognized African American artists/painters.
https://amer...lawrence-2828
-- Faith Ringgold
Ringgold’s oil paintings and posters begun in the mid-to-late 1960s carried strong political messages in support of the civil-rights movement
https://www....aith-ringgold
-- Kehinde Wiley
An American artist best known for his portraits that render people of color in the traditional settings of Old Master paintings.
In 2018 Wiley became the first African-American artist to paint an official U.S. Presidential portrait for the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
https://www....ey.com/about/
-- Kara Walker
Kara Walker is among the most complex and prolific American artists of her generation. She has gained national and international recognition for her cut-paper silhouettes depicting historical narratives haunted by sexuality, violence, and subjugation.
https://walk...s/kara-walker