African American Art

Stories about African American and Black art and artists in America

Latest

  1. “Let Me Get to Work"

    Black and white photograph of a person wearing a stylish outfit walking past a painted wall with an intricate illustration and the words, "think positive".

    Photographer Coreen Simpson reflects on five decades of documenting Black culture

    Feb 24, 2026

  2. Sights and Sounds of the Revolution

    woman with long braids wearing headphones, in a room with artwork on the walls and DJ equipment in the background

    KCRW DJ Novena Carmel discusses art and activism and crafts her own playlist inspired by the Black Arts Movement

    Feb 20, 2026

  3. Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985

    Black-and-white image of a woman working in a factory surrounded by sewing implements. She smiles toward the camera with her arms stretched wide.

    New exhibition opens February 24–June 14, 2026

    Feb 9, 2026

  4. Dress Code: Drag

    Black and white photograph of dark-skinned person with arms spread wide to reveal luxurious evening wear

    In the Johnson Publishing Company Archive, you’ll find photographs of 1950s' drag performers striking a pose at grand balls

    Feb 2, 2026

  5. An Artist, Histories, and Community: Coming Together Around Kerry James Marshall

    Photos of a symposium with speakers and a live audience.

    Marshall’s work reveals the resilience and complexity of the Black diaspora

    Jan 15, 2026

  6. Celebrating the Breadth of Black Art in Brazil

    A person in a small office flips through art books while seated at a desk

    How one art historian is expanding the narrative of art history

    Oct 7, 2025

  7. Hidden in Plain Sight

    Black and white photograph of women in formal attire next to a white church, with one woman holding a sign that reads, "We are not satisfied–We want justice now–Equal rights congress".

    How two Getty interns are helping to honor and preserve Los Angeles’s Black heritage

    Sep 16, 2025

  8. The Fabulous Fashion of Eunice W. Johnson

    A group of women wearing brightly colored dresses for a fashion show

    For the glamorous cofounder of Ebony and Jet, haute couture was about much more than looking good

    Jul 30, 2025

  9. Getty Expands Funding for Historic Modern Buildings Designed by Black Architects

    Street view of a white building with decorative concrete screens.

    Over 20 buildings across the U.S. have received grants since the Conserving Black Modernism initiative kicked off in 2022

    Jul 22, 2025

  10. Honoring the Legacy of Black Craft

    A person in a library flips through a book full of colorful images of quilts

    Quilting books in the Kaplan African American Visual Culture Collection

    Feb 25, 2025