Upcoming 38 – Female Artists of the Harlem Renaissance

As a result of a landmark publication titled, “Harlem: Mecca for the New Negro” (March 1925), many African American artists followed the “Great Migration” from the South moving to New York City and other Northern cities where they hoped to be afforded more opportunities to create art, literature, and music. What resulted was the “Harlem Renaissance” which assured a revolution wherein African Americans gained a major presence in the American fields of writing, music and, of course, art.

In this presentation we will cover the most prominent African American female artists of the Harlem Renaissance.  Meta Warwick-Fuller depicted African and African American experiences in her sculptures as she sought to express nature of life and social issues in the United States.  Augusta Savage’s figures showed gentleness and her love for others, celebrating the beauty of Black in traditional and modern ways. Lois Mailou Jones evolved from a successful post-impressionist to a more graphic style that celebrated Africa and Haiti, and which is highly prized by art collectors.