Contents
Jacob Lawrence
Painting the Great Migration as a sixty-panel visual narrative.
The Migration Series · Struggle series
- Born
- 7 September 1917
- Birthplace
- Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
- Died
- 9 June 2000
More people
Jacob Lawrence
Jacob Lawrence was an American painter whose vivid, angular compositions told stories of Black history and everyday life.
Early life
Harlem
Grew up amid the neighbourhood’s cultural and political activity.
Art training
Studied through community art programmes and workshops.
Career
- 1930s
Historical series
Began painting narratives about Black leaders.
- 1941
National recognition
Completed The Migration Series while still in his early twenties.
- Later career
Painting and teaching
Continued major series and taught at the University of Washington.
Selected work
The Migration Series
Traced Black migration from the rural South to northern cities.
Struggle series
Reconsidered episodes in American history.
Builders
Explored work, cooperation and construction.
Beyond work
Partnership
Married artist Gwendolyn Knight.
Teaching
Spent many years mentoring artists in Seattle.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Carl Van Vechten. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
