A comparison between contemporary African American Artists and Jacob Lawrence

Jackie Henson-DaceyRiverview High School

Jacob Lawrence and the Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance grew out of the changes

that had taken place in the African American community since the abolition of slavery.

Social and cultural changes in early 20th century United States became a great influence for the art produced during the Harlem Renaissance.

Contributing factors leading to the Harlem Renaissance were the Great Migration of African Americans to northern cities

Factors leading to the decline of this era include the Great Depression.

Jacob Lawrence Jacob Lawrence was born in Atlantic

City, New Jersey in 1917. He spent his early childhood in

Pennsylvania, but at age 13 moved to Harlem with his mother and siblings.

He received his training at community art centers in Harlem and the American Artists School in New York.

His works are in the permanent collections of the nation's leading museums.

Jacob Lawrence – The Street and the Expressions of Freedom.

Jacob Lawrence

Lawrence was foremost among African-American artists for more than six decades

His art ranges from contemporary genre scenes, set in supermarkets and in Harlem; to historic events, including black migration to America's northern cities and the aftermath of Hiroshima.

Jacob Lawrence Lawrence also wrote captions to

accompany the paintings. In 1986, when he began transferring these

older paintings to screen prints, Lawrence decided to rework many of the images he had created a half century earlier.

Image sizes were more than doubled, and colors and compositions were enhanced or brightened.

Justin Bua (1968) For the past ten years Justin Bua has been

making a mark with his urban flavored paintings. His combination of graffiti-esque style, distorted

realism and urban themes has made his paintings some of the most popular art among young people today. Bua’s work is available nationwide at stores like Z Gallerie, Deck the Walls and Prints Plus.

However, the biggest markets for his work are the college campuses in America and Canada, where he is a best seller.

He was born and grew up in New York City’s un-tamed west side.

Justin Bua, The Jazz Trio and Midnight

Justin Bua Went to school at the Art Center

College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Received a B.F.A. in Illustration. He makes his living doing

illustrations for The Nike Corporation, Atlantic Records, Warner Bros., and BMG Music and is promoted by American Vision Gallery.

Corey Barksdale Was born in Nashville, Tennessee into a

family of Artists. He was exposed to color and form at an

early age by his grandmother a quilt artist, and his mother who was a very gifted artist.

This rich beginning is the root of Barksdale’s creative expression.

Earned a B.F.A. in Painting from Atlanta College of Art and Design.

Corey Barksdale, Jazz Crusader, Dance of Passion, In the Street

Corey Barksdale He was heavily influenced by abstract

expressionism and admired Jasper Johns, Clifford Still, William deKooning and African American artists John Biggers, Romare Bearden and William Tolliver.

Images range from human figures to non-objective abstracts. Concentrations range from love to strength.

Assignment: Formal Comparison Examine Jacob Lawrence and one of the

contemporary artists: Corey Barksdale and/or Justin Bua.

Do a venn diagram in you sketchbook that compares the similarities and differences of the two artists.

Write a paragraph (in sketchbook) that summarizes the comparison.

Create one page with sketches that show your influence (based on one artist).

Studio Project On a piece of 9 X 12 inch paper

create an image that represents JAZZ.

Use the artists we studied as inspiration.

Use oil pastels as your medium.* Assessment:

1) Imaginative/Expressive; 2) Purposeful use of material.