Curated OER
Literature and Art Through Our Eyes: African-American Artists
Examine the contributions of African-Americans in the worlds of art and literature. Over the course of a few days, young scholars will read and analyze a poem, a short story, and a piece of art. They complete a range of...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: The Art and Life of William H. Johnson
With this leasson plan, students will learn about prominent African American artist William H. Johnson and his influence both on the history of art and black American culture. Select a link for the desired grade level version of this...
Other
American Sport Art Museum and Archives: Ernie Barnes
Ernie Barnes was named Sports Artist of the Year in both 1984 and 2004. The site includes a biographical sketch, commentary on Barnes's style and inspiration, and information about his most significant and influential works.
Kentucky Educational Television
Kentucky Educational Television: Ellis Wilson: So Much to Paint
Created as a supplement to a television documentary on the African-American artist, Ellis Wilson, site content includes extensive biographical information, a timeline of his life, and examples of many of his paintings.
Other
Rhode Island College: About Edward Mitchell Bannister
This site provides a detailed biography of the famous African American artist, Edward Mitchell Bannister.
Other
Romare Bearden Foundation
Site provides not only a biography of this great African-American artist, but many beautiful images of his work. At this site you can use "Bearden in the Classroom," for teaching ideas across grade levels. A great place to explore!
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Horace Pippin
A concise biographical sketch that examines the contributions of African American painter and Pennsylvania native, Horace Pippin.
Kenyon College
Kenyon College: North by South: Augusta Savage
A detailed biography of the artist, Augusta Savage. This site includes images of her work, and links to related artists.
Other
Nat King Cole Society: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
This site provides information about Nat King Cole, as well as a timeline of his life. Nat King Cole was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Joshua Johnson
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Joshua Johnson is described here along with information on his contributions to art. Johnson is the "earliest documented" African American painter.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Frank Jones
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Frank Jones is described here along with information on his contributions to art. Jones, an African American artist, was incarcerated for much of his life.
South Carolina Educational Television
Etv: Artopia: Painting Critic: The Life of John Brown, No. 11 by Jacob Lawrence
A painting of antislavery fighter John Brown leading an attack on horseback against settlers who supported slavery. Provides a short biography of the artist, Jacob Lawrence, questions about the painting for students to answer, and an...
Black Past
Black Past: Bearden,. Romare
This short encyclopedia article tells about Romare Bearden, a prolific African American artist and author. Links to other websites for more information.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: John Biggers
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, this site provides brief biographical information on John Biggers in addition to an extensive listing of his works as displayed at the museum.
Other
Ernie barnes.com
Ernie Barnes is renowned in two fields of endeavor. He was a professional football player in the 1960s, but gained more recognition as a painter than as a player. This site offers a biography as well as images of many of his paintings.
Starfall
Starfall: Ernie Barnes
View three of Ernie Barnes' influential artworks, along with quotations and discussion/writing prompts, and a short biography. The page is designed for young students.
Art Cyclopedia
Artcyclopedia: The Harlem Renaissance
This site has a list of fifteen artists from the movement with links to images in various museums.
Black Past
Black Past: Grafton Tyler Brown (1841 1918)
Learn about Grafton Tyler Brown, the most successful African American artist in the 19th Century west, who lived his adult life as a white man.
Other
Ask Art: Grafton Tyler Brown
This site offers three brief biographies of Grafton Tyler Brown, "the first recognized African- American artist in the American West." Click "The Images" for examples of Brown's work.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Thornton Dial, Sr.
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Thornton Dial, Sr. is described here along with information on his contributions to art through his paintings, sculptures, and drawings.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Kara Walker
Biographical information on Kara walker, an American installation artist who used intricate cut-paper silhouettes, together with collage, drawing, painting, performance, film, video, shadow puppetry, light projection, and animation, to...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Augusta Savage
Read interesting facts about the life of American sculptor and educator, Augusta Savage, who battled racism to secure a place for African American women in the art world.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Henry Ossawa Tanner
Brief biography on Henry Tanner, an American painter who gained international acclaim for his depiction of landscapes and biblical themes.