Masters of African American Art
Born 1765-1920
The Anyone Can Fly Foundation's mission is to expand the art establishment's canon to include artists of the African Diaspora and to introduce the Great Masters of African American Art and their art traditions to children and adult audiences.
The this is a list of under-represented African American artists born in the 18th, 19th and early 20th century. The Foundation honors these artists, and supports the dissemination of their work through scholarship and teaching to school children. Follow the links to find the text of essays and lesson plans written with support from the Anyone Can Fly Foundation. If you are interested in applying for a scholar or teachers grant, please contact us.
Joshua Johnston, Painter
1765-1830
Martha Erskine Ricks, Quilt Maker
ca. 1817-1901
essay
Robert S. Duncanson, Painter
1823-1872
Edward M. Bannister, Painter
1828-1901
Harriet Powers, Quilt Maker
1837-1911
Edmonia Lewis, Sculptor
1845-1911
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Painter
1859-1936
William Edmonson, Sculptor
1874-1951
Meta Warrick Fuller, Sculptor
1877-1968
James Van Der Zee, Photographer
1886-1983
Laura Wheeler Waring, Painter
1887-1948
Horace Pippin, Painter
1888-1946
lesson plan
Sargent Johnson, Sculptor
1888-1967
Archibald J. Motley, Painter
1891-1981
Augusta Savage, Sculptor
1892-1962
Minnie Evans, Folk Painter
1892-1987
Palmer C. Hayden, Painter
1893-1973
Alma W. Thomas, Painter
1896-1978
Aaron Douglas, Painter
1899-1979
Hale A. Woodruff, Painter
1900-1980
Selma Burke, Sculptor
1900-1995
essay
William H. Johnson, Painter
1901-1970
Beauford Delaney, Painter
1901-1979
Richmond Barthe, Sculptor
1901-1989
essay
James Lesesne Wells, Painter
1902-1989
Lois Mailou Jones, Painter
1905-1998
essay
Charles Alston, Painter
1907-1977
Norman Lewis, Painter
1909-1979
Alan Rohan Crite, Painter
1910-2007
Romare Bearden, Painter
1914-1988
essay
Hughie Lee Smith, Painter
1915-1999
Elizabeth Catlett, Sculptor
1915-2012
award
Eldzier Cortor, Painter
1916-2016
Jacob Lawrence, Painter
1917-2000
Charles White, Painter
1918-1979
Roy De Carava, Photographer
1919-2009
Robert Blackburn, Print Maker
1920-2003
essay
Lesson Plans
Robert Blackburn
A Life in Print: Robert Blackburn and American Printmaking
by Dr. Deborah Cullen, a 2002 Anyone Can Fly Foundation Professional Scholars Grant recipient.
Please Note: Copyright Permission has been granted for images that illustrate this essay. © The Estate of Robert Blackburn. Used with permission. "Refugees" photo is provided courtesy of North Carolina Central University Art Museum, (Durham, NC). All other photos are provided courtesy of Karl Peterson, NY. Please refer to image captions for additional information.