To mark the New Year, January’s Art Poll By Bob asked “Which of the following years in art do you consider your favorite?” and you answered, leading to the first tie in poll history: with both 1541 (Michelangelo completes The Last Judgment and his work on The Sistine Chapel; El Greco born) and 1863 (Manet exhibits The Luncheon on the Grass at the Salon des Refuses and paints Olympia, ushering in the age of Impressionism; Edvard Munch born) getting 13 votes. 1793 (The Louvre opens in Paris, beginning the phenomenon of the public art museum) came in second with 9 votes, followed by 1949 (LIFE Magazine asks if Jackson Pollock is “America’s Greatest Painter”; Abstract Expressionism takes hold; New York becomes the art capital of the world) with 8 and 1889 (Van Gogh paints his Sunflowers; The Eiffel Tower opens as part of the transformation of Paris) with 7. Amazingly, the usually popular Van Gogh came in dead last this time.
The longer that poll ran, the more great years came to mind, as I’m sure they came to yours.
For February, to celebrate Black History Month in the United States, I decided to ask, “Which of the following African-American artists is your favorite?” :
Romare Bearden
Beauford Delaney
Aaron Douglas
William H. Johnson
Jacob Lawrence
Horace Pippin
Martin Puryear
Henry Ossawa Tanner
Kara Walker
Kehinde Wiley
There are so many great, yet unrecognized African-American artists that this list just scratches the surface. I wish I could have added Aaron McGruder, whose manga-inspired, politically incorrect comic The Boondocks (above) never failed to make me laugh and think. I only listed those artists that I know well, so please add in comments any names you think should be included and why. This entire blog is a learning experience for me (and I hope in some small way for my readers), so I look at this poll and this month as an opportunity to learn more about the contributions of African-Americans to the world of art. From pioneers such as Tanner to modern artists such as Walker and Wiley, they have left their mark on American and world art, regardless of how much we realize it.
If you find that none of these names are familiar, take a moment to click through and learn more about these artists and the meaning behind their lives and work. I’m sure you’ll find a favorite in no time.
3 comments:
Andrew Turner is a favorite of mine
http://www.rogallery.com/turner_andrew/aturne-bio.htm
Very tough to choose between William H. Johnson and Horace Pippin!
This was left as a comment to "Etched into History," but it pertains to the poll:
"I want vote for my favorite African American Artist, but you somehow overlooked her in your list. Faith Ringgold has done so much for not only African Americans but Women as well! To leave her out is a huge oversight. Shame Shame, She is not only revolutionary and sensetive, but also amazingly talented. My vote is for her!"
--Anonymous
I knew I'd leave out plenty of great African-American artists, and Faith Ringgold is one of them. I stretched the number of options to double what I normally offer, and yet I knew this would be a problem.
On the bright side, the more names that come up in the discussion, the more proof that there are a lot of great African-American artists out there.
Thanks, Anonymous.
--Bob
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