Last Event (11th August – 13th October 2022)

Black Artists on Art: Past, Present and Future Exhibition

The Crocker Art Museum and Black Artists on Art presented Black Artists on Art: Past, Present and Future, featuring legendary artists alongside contemporary and up-and-coming talents. The exhibition was the ninth unique iteration of a series that shared the title of the historic Black Artists on Art book. Initially published in 1969 by Dr. Samelia Lewis and Ruth G. Waddy, Black Artists on Art brought attention to the many notable Black artists who were neglected or overlooked by the mainstream art world. Dr. Lewis’ grandson, Unity Lewis, initiated the eponymous exhibition series to continue building community among Black artists. This presentation of Black Artists on Art was unique in its pairing of well-known legends with contemporary and youth artists.

PAST EXHIBITIONS

  • 2015 – Black Artists on Art: The Legacy Exhibition. Oakstop. Oakland, California
  • 2015 – Black Women Artists on Art. Oakstop. Oakland, California
  • 2015 – Black Artists on Art: Marin Community Foundation. Marin, California
  • 2015 – Black Artists on Art: The Legacy Exhibition. Petaluma Arts Center. Petaluma, California
  • 2017 – Black Artists on Art: The Origins Exhibition. Joyce Gordon Gallery. Oakland, California
  • 2017 – Black Artists on Art: The Legends Exhibition. Kaneko Gallery, American River College. Sacramento, California
  • 2021 – Black Artists on Art: The Liberation Exhibition. Project 25. Sacramento, California
  • 2021 – 2022 – Black Artists on Art: Trailblazers Exhibition. Sojourner Truth Museum. Sacramento, California
  • 2022 – Black Artists on Art: Past, Present and Future. Crocker Art Museum. Sacramento, California

THE LEGACY CONTINUES

I wanted to make a chronology of African American artists, and artists of African descent, to document our history. The historians weren’t doing it. I felt it better the artists do it anyway, through pictorial and written information. I thought it was absolutely necessary, not just for the public but for artists, to know what was going on. In my opinion, the artists were the people who documented our history better than anybody else. A lot was going on culturally. Blacks were rebelling and revolting and doing things that they hadn’t done before. I felt we had to do something. I created these books to inform artists, and inspire them to be participants in the movement. It was really about the movement.

-Dr. Samella Lewis

More than 50 years after the release of the second volume of Black Artist on Art, I have come to preserve and continue the legacy. A legacy that represents more than just the work of my grandmother Dr. Samella Lewis; but the legacy of the Black Arts Movement (BAM), it’s growth and development, over the decades. Like so many of my fellow artists, I am proof that BAM has been moving like the underground railroad. The fact that Black people continue to face the same issues in today’s society that our predecessors faced in the sixties, indicates to me, that we must relentlessly press on. The struggle continues, as black people in the Diaspora address the same beast of discrimination that continues to threaten our lives, and the wellbeing of our children. We are still a marginalized people whose historical contribution is not properly taught in schools. Our accomplishments are undermined, while our creative genius is routinely plagiarized. Our blood flows daily in the streets of this still segregated nation, at the hands of a system that has no regard for us. A system that has no intention of seeing us living out our full potential. It is now, as it has always been, up to us to protect and preserve our legacy, culture and story. We take on this responsibility so that future generations will understand, with accuracy, the heritage that so many of our heroes have sacrificed their lives to bequeath to us.

– Unity Lewis

Our Growing List of Artists

Who Have Contributed to the BAOA Project

  • Abba Yahudah
  • Alfred Tyler
  • Alice Gafford
  • Alonzo Davis
  • Alpha Bruton
  • Alvin Hollingsworth
  • Amir Aziz
  • Amira Richmond
  • Amos White
  • Andre Jones
  • Anna Edwards
  • Anna Tyler
  • Arezno Smith
  • Arlene Turner-Crawford
  • Arthur Berry
  • Arthur Britt
  • Arthur Carraway
  • Arthur Monroe
  • Arthur Rose
  • Aundrea Jones
  • Avotcja Jiltonilro
  • Baba Diop
  • Barbara Church
  • Bayete Ross Smith
  • Ben Hazard
  • Benedict Olorunnisomo
  • Benny Andrews
  • Bernard Rollins
  • Bernard Upshur
  • Bernard Young
  • Bernie Casey
  • Bertrand Phillips
  • Beth Rubel
  • Betye Saar
  • Bing Davis
  • Bob Heliton
  • Bobby Walls
  • Bre Gipson
  • Brenda Rogers
  • Brooks Dendy
  • Bryan Keith Thomas
  • Calvin Brunett
  • Camille Billops
  • Carole Ward
  • Casper Banjo
  • Cecil Burton
  • Cedric Orange
  • Charlene Tull
  • Charles Rogers
  • Charles White
  • Charles Young
  • Christopher McIntyre
  • Christopher Paul Jordan
  • Christopher Williams
  • Claude Lewis
  • Cleveland Bellow
  • Cliff Joseph
  • Constance Okwumabua
  • Cortell Harris II
  • Courageous
  • Cyril Fabio
  • Dale Davis
  • Damballah Smith
  • Damon Powell
  • Dan Concholar
  • Dan Williams
  • Dana Chandler
  • Dana King
  • David Bradford
  • David Driskell
  • David Hammons
  • David Mann
  • David Monette
  • Deborah Pittman
  • DeJuan Mason
  • Della Taylor
  • DelReverda-Jennings
  • Denise Palm
  • Denise Ward
  • Dewey Crumpler
  • Diallo M Jeffery
  • Dion Henderson
  • Donald Coles
  • Donald Greene
  • Dorothy Atkins
  • Doyle Lane
  • Duane Deterville
  • Dumile Feni
  • Dwight Head
  • Ebony London
  • Edward Love
  • Eesuu Orundide
  • Elaine Towns
  • Elizabeth Catlett
  • Elliott Pinkney
  • Emoni Jackson
  • Eric Austin
  • Ernest Herbert
  • Eugene Eda
  • Eugene Grisby
  • Evangeline Montgomery
  • Evelyn Terry
  • Floyd Coleman
  • Forestee Vance
  • Fred Brown
  • Fred Wilson
  • Fulani Carter
  • Gary Rickson
  • Gayle Madyun
  • George Clack
  • George Clinton
  • George Smith
  • Gerry Simpson
  • Githinji Mbire
  • Gloria Bohanon
  • Gwendolyn Knight
  • Halcyon Clay
  • Hank Willis Thomas
  • Harry Davis
  • Hasseem Abdallah
  • Hayward Oubre
  • Heru 1
  • Howard Smith
  • Humbert Howard
  • Ibibio Fundi
  • Idris Hassan
  • Irene Clark
  • Isaac Nommo
  • Jack Jordan
  • Jacob Lawrence
  • Jamel Shabazz
  • James Gayles
  • James Mitchel
  • James Parks
  • James Watkins
  • Jene Ballentene
  • Jerry Reed
  • Jewel Simon
  • Joha Harrison
  • John Outterbridge
  • John Riddle
  • John Russell
  • Johnnie Mae Gonzales
  • Joseph Geran
  • Juan Logan
  • Juanita Gonzales
  • Justice Renaissance
  • Kanika Marshall
  • Kara Fortune
  • Karen Seneferu
  • Karl McIntosh
  • Keia Kodama
  • Keli Walker
  • Kelly Crosby
  • Ken Province
  • Kenn Simpson
  • Kenneth Dickerson
  • Kenneth Falana
  • Kia Duras
  • L. Compton Kolawole
  • Larissa Amarachi
  • Larry Walker
  • LaShaune Fitch
  • Laurelin Gilmore
  • Lawrence McGaugh
  • Lee McCormick
  • Lee West
  • Leo Twiggs
  • Leon Hicks
  • Leon Kennedy
  • Leslie Price
  • Lev Mills
  • Lois Jones
  • Lorenzo Pace
  • Lucille Roberts (Malkia)
  • Makeela B. Amani
  • Malik Seneferu
  • Manuel Hughes
  • Marcella Hayes Muhammad
  • Marcellous Lovelace
  • Marcus Murray
  • Marcus Sterling Alleyne
  • Margaret Burroughs
  • Margo Humphrey
  • Marie Johnson
  • Marion Epting
  • Marva Cremer
  • Mary Parks Washington
  • Michael Perry
  • Mikele Egozi Fletcher
  • Milton Young
  • Mitchell Caton
  • Mozett Coleman
  • Murry Depillars
  • Mutope J. Johnson
  • Nancy Cato
  • Nannette Harris
  • Nathaniel Bustion
  • Nelson Steven’s
  • Nicole Dixon
  • Noah Purifoy
  • Norma Morgan
  • Omonivie Okhade
  • Onyebe Ella
  • Orlonda Uffre
  • Overton Loyd
  • Paul Keene
  • Paul Lewin
  • Phillip Hampton
  • Phillip Mason
  • Rayana Wilder
  • Raymond Howell
  • Raymond Lark
  • REFA 1
  • Renata Gray
  • Richard Waytt
  • Robert D’hue
  • Robert Glover
  • Robert Sengstacke
  • Roberta Thompson
  • Rod Taylor
  • Roland Welton
  • Romare Bearden
  • Ron Adams
  • Ron Griffin
  • Ron Moore
  • Rosalind McGary
  • Roscoe Reddix
  • Rose Hill
  • Roselind Jefferies
  • Royce Vaughn
  • Royya Martin
  • Ruth Waddy
  • Samella Lewis
  • Samuel Curtis
  • Samuel Fleming Lewis
  • Selam Mekonen
  • Sheryle Butler
  • Shirley Bolton
  • Shonna McDaniels
  • Shurvon Haynes
  • Sita Kali Ma’at
  • Stanley Wilson
  • Suzanne Jackson
  • Sydney Cain (Sage Stargate)
  • Talver Germany
  • Tarika Lewis
  • Tasha Nicole King
  • Tasin Sabir
  • TheArthur Wright
  • Thomas Feelings
  • Toshia Christal
  • Tracy Brown
  • Trevor Parham
  • Unity Lewis
  • Van Slater
  • Virginia Jourdan
  • Vivian Browne
  • Wanda Sabir
  • Warren Goodson
  • Wes Hall
  • William Artis
  • William Curtis
  • William Henderson
  • William Maxwell
  • William Pajaud
  • William Pryor
  • William Rhodes
  • William Walker
  • Willie Longshore
  • Yvonne Catchings
  • Yvonne Meo
  • Zena Allen

Black Artists On Art Submission Form

We are currently accepting artist submissions for new volumes of the book. Please fill out the form below to be considered for Volumes 3 & 4 of BLACK ARTISTS ON ART: