Jacob Lawrence
— Jacob Lawrence—
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000) was a groundbreaking African American painter known for his vivid and dynamic portrayals of African American life, history, and culture. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and raised in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance, Lawrence developed a bold, modernist style characterized by flat, vibrant colors and angular forms.
He rose to national prominence in the 1940s with his Migration Series, a sequence of 60 panels depicting the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. Lawrence’s work often highlighted themes of struggle, resilience, and social justice, drawing inspiration from historical figures such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Toussaint Louverture.
A dedicated educator as well as an artist, Lawrence taught at several institutions, most notably the University of Washington in Seattle. His art remains influential for its storytelling power, formal innovation, and commitment to representing the Black experience in America
