Black Artists in California
Nineteenth Century to Now
Nineteenth Century to Now
The history of art in California frequently emphasizes the personal and artistic freedoms afforded to countercultural artists, poets, musicians, and intellectuals who moved west. However, a disjuncture exists between romanticized notions of California as a progressive beacon and the lived realities of many artists of color who pursued careers here. Black Artists in California: Nineteenth Century to Now will be the first exhibition to survey the profound contributions that African American artists have made within the history of California. Drawing primarily from the Crocker’s collection, the exhibition will feature California’s best-known Black artists along with many who are lesser known or still early in their careers.
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Themes present in the broader history of California will feature in the exhibition, along with others that are more uniquely related to African American artists in the state. Black Artists in California: Nineteenth Century to Now is co-curated by Unity Lewis and Francesca Wilmott and supported by a generous grant from the Terra Foundation for American Art. The exhibition will be accompanied by an exhibition catalogue surveying the Crocker’s collection of African American art.