Famous Black Artists & Painters

Edmonia Lewis was an American sculptor who worked in Rome for most of her career. The first African-American sculptor to gain international prominence, Lewis was also the only Black female artist to have participated and recognized by the American artistic mainstream until the end of the 19th century. Molefi Kete Asante included Lewis in his 100 Greatest African Americans list.

A master of what he called dynamic cubism, 20th-century American painter Jacob Lawrence experimented with a variety of media, such as tempera, cardboard, and paper.  His narrative painting consisted of scenes from Black history. The Migration of the American Negro remains one of his best creations.

Kerry James Marshall is an American professor and artist renowned for his artworks and paintings of Black figures. His work has inspired and influenced contemporary artists like Hank Willis Thomas. In 2017, he was mentioned in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people. Marshall has also taught at prestigious institutions like the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC).

Roscoe Orman is an American actor, artist, writer, and child advocate. He is credited with co-founding the New Lafayette Theatre in New York City, where he directed and acted in many plays by playwright Ed Bullins. A respected figure in New York's theatre circuit, Orman has won two Audelco Theatre Awards among many other prestigious awards and honors.

Though he dropped out of school at standard 6, Ghanaian singer Kwadwo Nkansah, also known as Lil Win, later soared to fame as a musician, comedian, and actor. His own inability to complete his education made him establish the Great Minds International School in Ghana later.

Best known for his Amistad Mutiny murals, Hale Woodruff was raised singlehandedly by his working mother after his father’s death and thus took to drawing to spend time by himself. He later grew up to be a Black art icon and established the Atlanta Annuals to encourage African-American artists.