A Selection of African American Art and Artists’ Books

Watson Library is celebrating Black History Month by highlighting publications from our collection on African American art and artists. The books represent a selection of over eight hundred publications acquired through an initiative launched in July 2020 to significantly enhance our collection of monographs, exhibition catalogs, periodicals, zines, and artists' books by and about African American art and artists. The project also produced an online artist index of over 600 African American artists from the 17th century to today.

All the books in this exhibition are on display in Watson Library’s Reference Room through April 30, 2022. After that date they will be fully available for consultation in Watson Library. More information on using the library is here.

View Library Hours.

Exhibition Objects

View All

A slider containing 7 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Survey Graphic. Volume LIII, No. 11, March 1 1925. Harlem: Mecca of the new negro
1925

The Negro in art : a pictorial record of the Negro artist and of the Negro theme in art, Alain Locke American — The Negro in art : a pictorial record of the Negro artist and of the Negro theme in art
1940

Ten Afro-American artists of the Nineteenth century, James A. Porter — Ten Afro-American artists of the Nineteenth century
1967

Exhibition of work by Negro artists, Harmon Foundation — Exhibition of work by Negro artists
1933

Modern Negro art : with eighty-five halftone plates, James A. Porter — Modern Negro art : with eighty-five halftone plates
1943

Trenton Doyle Hancock : mind of the mound : critical mass, Trenton Doyle Hancock American — Trenton Doyle Hancock : mind of the mound : critical mass
Multiple artists/makers
2019

Conjure, Delita Martin American — Conjure
2021

Marquee: Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917-2000). Library III, 1960, detail: cover image of The Negro in American Art: An Exhibition, 1967, University of California Los Angeles, publisher. United States, California. Illustrated book, 63 p.p., H. 11 in. (28 cm). Thomas J. Watson Library (N6538.N5 N35 1967). © 2022 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Visiting Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion? You must join the virtual exhibition queue when you arrive. If capacity has been reached for the day, the queue will close early.

Exhibition Objects