Author:
johan lopes
Although African American art is popular today in the United States, this form of art owes its origins to the local art of Central and West Africa. This art saw growth between the 17th and the early 19th centuries. During this period, the art took various forms, such as ceramic vessels, wrought iron figures, quilts and small drums. This art form was further popularized in the local markets of western European by artists, such as Joshua Johnson (painter from Baltimore) and Scipio Moorhead (engraver from New England).
Renaissance to Modern Day: The Journey of African American Art
The Harlem Renaissance (popularly known as the New Negro Movement) is considered to be the most remarkable movement that changed the course of African American art. This cultural movement, which spanned the entire 1920s and 1930s, spread the idea of freedom within the artistic community. This was the period that saw the advent of famous artists such as William H. Johnson, Palmer Hayden, Richmond Barthe and Hale Woodruff, to name a few. In an attempt to promote black artists, William E. Harmon established the Harmon Foundation, which supported a number of artists through its annually held exhibitions and the Harmon Award. Another attempt came in 1933, when the Public Works of Art Project was introduced by the US Treasury Department. However, this attempt wasn\’t too successful. It was after World War II (1939 – 1945) that African American art started getting international recognition, with exhibitions held in cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, and others. Today, this art form explores various fields, such as violence, sexuality, gender, race and identity.
African American Art Requires Support Even Today
Even after a long and vibrant history, the African American art community still needs support in the modern day world. Till a few years ago, most mainstream American art galleries didn\’t even feature African American art. Even if it made its way into the galleries, such art received very low price offerings. However, the recent White House campaign to bring back the wide diversity of this art form has been successful in popularizing this art form. But there is a much wider scope for black art apart from the expositions, auction prices and critical reviews. Today, this art form needs prominent advocacy so that it can easily reach out to people in every corner of this world.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/clothing-articles/the-splendor-of-african-american-art-5990849.html
About the Author
African Import USA is a leading dealer in African American art masterpieces. You can also find here the latest black college attire, black movie DVDs, African drums and much more right here.