20 Great African American Artists

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Black History Month is a fantastic time to spotlight some inspirational African American artists!

These artists have all made important contributions to the art world. Some of these artists also use their art to express the social and political realities of the Black experience, giving viewers a deeper understanding of Black history.

Black artists have historically been underrepresented in art museums and publications. It's important to recognize these artists and teach others about their art and achievements.

Here is a list of 20 African American artists you could introduce during Black History Month and all throughout the rest of the year! Download the FREE Printable PDF here!



I use PowerPoints to teach my students about several of these artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Horace Pippin, Romare Bearden, Edmonia Lewis, Alma Thomas, and Henry Ossawa Tanner. Download the Henry Ossawa Tanner PowerPoint for FREE to check it out!


The presentations include a short student-friendly biography of the artist along with several examples of their work and commentary on their style.  


These PowerPoints are available in my Teacher Pay Teachers store, either individually or bundled together for a discount in my Celebrate Black History PowerPoint Bundle and my 50-Artist PowerPoint Bundle.


 


I use my PowerPoint presentations to teach my students about a different "Artist of the Month" each month. Often, we also do an art project inspired by our "Artist of the Month".

Below are a few of my favorite art projects that I do with my students, inspired by three awesome Black artists: Romare Bearden, Faith Ringgold, and Kehinde Wiley.


These City Collages, inspired by Romare Bearden, are so creative and fun to make!  My first graders learned about Romare Bearden and his collages and then used construction paper, crayons, and even photocopies of photographs, to create their own little cities bursting with exciting narratives!

View the blog post for Romare Bearden City Collages here.  The full lesson with collage materials is available on Teachers Pay Teachers, Classful, and Made By Teachers.


After studying Faith Ringgold's story quilts, 1st graders created a border reminiscent of quilt patterns. In the center of this quilt-like border, students illustrated a story from their own lives.  From pet store visits, to football games, to trips to the playground, the stories are personal and precious!

View the blog post for Faith Ringgold Story Quilts here. The full lesson with quilt square templates is available on Teachers Pay Teachers, Classful, and Made By Teachers.


Kehinde Wiley amazes students with his incredible talent, and my students love the contemporary vibe the patterned backgrounds give to their artwork!  Seventh graders practice facial proportions, shading, and creating patterns during this great self-portraiture project.

View the blog post for Kehinde Wiley Self-Portraits here.  The full lesson, including the Facial Proportion handout, Shading worksheet, and Pattern Idea printable, is available on Teachers Pay Teachers, Classful, and Made By Teachers.


    

Looking to organize all the artists you want to teach your students about?  Subscribe to the All About Art Newsletter to get the free 200-Artist Reference Guide today!

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