Exhibition Facts
Overview | Who's Who | Howard N. Fox essay, "Introduction toTwo Centuries of Black American Artat LACMA"
In 1976 the Los Angeles County Museum of Art opened Two Centuries of Black American Art as its major exhibition for the American bicentennial year. It was the first comprehensive survey of African American art which, following its premier at LACMA, toured three other major U.S. art institutions. The premise was to acknowledge the work of black artists during the period of 1750 to 1950, whose contributions to American art had largely been neglected. Featuring over 200 works and 63 artists, the show included painting, sculpture, drawing, graphics, crafts and decorative arts.
LACMA Artworks in the Exhibition
Henry Osawa Tanner, Daniel in the Lions' Den
Charles White, Seed of Love
Tour Itinerary:
Los Angeles County Museum of Art:
September 30, 1976–November 21, 1976
The High Museum of Art, Atlanta:
January 8, 1977–February 20, 1977
The Dallas Museum of Fine Arts:
March 30, 1977–May 15, 1977
The Brooklyn Museum:
June 25, 1977–August 21, 1977
Organized by LACMA:
Guest curator: David C. Driskell, chairman of the Department of Art at Fisk University
Curatorial department: American Art (museum-wide exhibition)
Research associate: Dr. Leonard Simon
Funding: The exhibition was made possible by grants from Philip Morris Incorporated and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Catalogue: Driskell, David C. Two Centuries of Black American Art:[exhibition], Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Museum of Fine Arts, Dallas, the Brooklyn Museum. Los Angeles County Museum of Art /Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1976. Fully illustrated, 224 pages, 32 plates.
Crossing the Color Line, Henry J. Seldis and Henri Ghent, © October 10, 1976, Los Angeles Times. Reprinted with Permission.
New Dawn for Black American Artists, William Wilson, ©September 26, 1976, Los Angeles Times. Reprinted with Permission.