Smithsonian Institution
Nm Af A: Audible Artworks: Selected African Musical Instruments
Five traditional African musical instruments are highlighted at this Smithsonian site: two types of drums, the thumb piano (mucapata), harp, and whistles. Includes historical facts about the instruments.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: African American Masters
An interesting site that contains paintings, sculptures, and photographs by African American artists. Each piece has a short paragraph below it describing the artwork, and the message the artist was trying to convey.
Library of Congress
Loc: African American Odyssey: Reconstruction and Its Aftermath
Part of a virtual exhibit by the Library of Congress, this site details the effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction on the newly freed slaves. It contains photographs of artwork and a map from the period.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Women in Africa: Tradition and Change
In this lesson plan, students will consider Women in Africa: Tradition and Change. Worksheets and other supporting materials can be found under the Resources tab. Students first examine a selection of traditional African artworks that...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Making of African American Identity: Painting the Migration
Paintings by Jacob Lawrence titled, "The Migration of the Negro", a series of sixty paintings, illustrates the migration of African Americans to the North in the twentieth century. A link to this artwork can be found within this summary.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Artists, Making of African American Identity: V. 1
The artwork of four nineteenth-century free blacks expressed in portraits, landscapes, sculpture, and photography. Links to works from Joshua Johnson, Robert Scott Duncanson, Edmonia Lewis, and Augustus Washington are provided.
Other
Detroit Institute of Arts: Homepage
The Detroit Institute of Arts is the fifth-largest fine arts museum in the United States, with over 60,000 works. Individual artworks may be viewed in "Collections". Areas include Asian art, African, Oceanic, and New World art, ancient...
Other
The Walter O. Evans Collection: African American Art
This resource provides different examples of African Art, including some created by Charles Alston.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Marian Anderson
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 2005 to commemorate classical singer Marian Anderson. With a short passage on her awards and international singing career.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Harriet Tubman: An Informative and Impressionistic Look
Harriet Tubman was a leading figure in the Underground Railroad movement. In this lesson, students research information about her using informative resources and look at impressionistic artwork depicting her life. Comparing informative...
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Minneapolis Institute of Arts: World Myths and Legends in Art
Fully comprehensive site that dives into world myths and world cultures. View art that expresses mythological themes from various cultures around the world and learn about cultural similarities and differences. Key words for learning,...
PBS
Pbs Online News Hour: The Art of Romare Bearden
Newshour with Jim Lehrer, a nightly news broadcast on PBS, offers a wealth of material on Romare Bearden. Content includes the NewsHour report, a gallery of his artwork, extended interviews with the artist, and a companion lesson plan.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Benjamin Banneker
View the artwork of Jerry Pickney honoring Benjamin Banneker on a stamp. Banneker predicted a solar eclipse, published farmers almanacs, and was famous for many more things.
Other
Michael Rosenfeld Gallery: Artists: Charles White
A brief biography of African American artist Charles White. Includes examples of his artworks.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: 1990 Black Heritage Series: Ida B. Wells Issue
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1990 to commemorate Ida B. Wells, one of the founders of the NAACP. With a short passage on her life and contributions to ending discrimination against women and African-Americans.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
Guggenheim Museum: Africa: Eastern Africa
A simple explanation of the Eastern Africa region of Africa, with information on the cultural history and examples of artwork.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
Guggenheim Museum: Southern Africa
A simple explanation of the Southern Africa region of Africa, with information on the cultural history and examples of artwork.
Other
Guggenheim Museum: Africa: Eastern Africa
A simple explanation of the Eastern Africa region of Africa, with information on the cultural history and examples of artwork.
Other
Guggenheim Museum: Southern Africa
A simple explanation of the Southern Africa region of Africa, with information on the cultural history and examples of artwork.
Other
Guggenheim Museum: Africa: Northern Africa
A simple explanation of the Northern Africa region of Africa, with information on the cultural history and examples of artwork.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Jesse Owens
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1998 to commemorate Jesse Owens, who won four Olympic gold medals in track and field. With a short biographical passage.
Other
June Kelly Gallery: Norman Lewis
This resource offers a timeline format of the education and career of Norman Lewis.
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.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Basquiat, Horn Players
Jean-Michel Basquiat's 1983 painting "Horn Players" shows us all the main stylistic features we have come to expect from this renowned American artist. View pictures of his artwork and read about his life in this essay.