1983
One of the first Black artists to receive national acclaim in the United States, Jacob Armstead Lawrence (1917–2000) was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, before moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and then to Harlem, New York, in 1930. While enrolled in a community after-school arts program, Lawrence developed his talents as a painter, drawing praise and encouragement from artist Charles Alston, who ran the program at the time. Despite his family’s financial struggles during the Great Depression, Lawrence continued his pursuit of the arts, developing a series of multipanel realist paintings dedicated to iconic Black historical figures, including Toussaint L’Ouverture, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. In 1938, he had his first solo exhibition at the Harlem YMCA and had begun to work for the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
In 1940, Lawrence received a grant from a philanthropic organization called the Rosenwald Fund, which allowed him to begin what would become his most famous work: The Migration Series, a narrative piece comprised of casein tempera paint on 60 18-by-12-inch hardboard panels featuring captions he’d written before he began to paint. (Fellow artist and future wife Gwendolyn Knight helped with the text.) Lawrence’s series focuses on the Great Migration of Black Americans from the agricultural South to the industrial North between 1910 and 1940.
By the end of the 1940s, Lawrence had earned widespread recognition for his important work and was the most celebrated Black artist in the United States. He continued covering Black historical figures throughout his career, though he also painted social commentaries on contemporary issues, like World War II and civil rights. He taught at the Art Students League in New York and at Black Mountain College in North Carolina (upon invitation from artist Josef Albers), among other institutions.
Lawrence’s works can be found in the collections of many major museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and elsewhere. His painting The Builders hangs in the White House today, as it was acquired by the White House Historical Association in 2007.
Find watercolor paintings, prints and more by Jacob Lawrence on 1stDibs.
$28,000
H 32 in W 40.75 in D 0.75 in
"To Preserve Their Freedom" Post-Cubist Screenprint, 1988
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Astoria, NY
Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917-2000), "To Preserve Their Freedom", Screenprint in Colors on Bainbridge Two-Ply Rag Paper, 1988, from "The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture", signed in pe...
Screen, Paper
"Windows"
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Jim's of Lambertville Fine Art Gallery is proud to present this work by Jacob Lawrence (1917 – 2000). Provenance: This painting is from the private collection of Gwen Lawrence, widow of Jacob Lawrence. Exhibitions: An attached photo (3rd photo) of the back of the piece shows its extensive exhibition history. Biography: Leading African-American narrative painter, Jacob Lawrence was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1917. After his father abandoned his family in 1924, Lawrence spent several years in foster homes before reuniting with his mother in 1930 in Harlem, New York. In New York, he attended art classes organized at the Harlem Art Workshop with Charles Aston and the Harlem Community Art Center with Augusta Savage. There, he met fellow young painters, Aaron Douglas, and William Johnson...
Gouache
$14,500
H 27.25 in W 20.125 in
Jacob Lawrence Stained Glass Windows Signed 2000 Screenprint Edition of 135
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: B,SGW (Stained Glass Windows) Medium: Screenprint in Colors on Rising Paper Edition: Edition 2/135 Publisher: Spradling Ames Corporation, Key West, FL P...
Paper, Screen
$25,000
H 25 in W 32 in
Confrontation at the Bridge, Signed Screenprint by Jacob Lawrence
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Long Island City, NY
In this signed print by Black American artist Jacob Lawrence, a group of protestors marches across a bridge with expressions of fear and trepidation. Below them churns a tumultuous r...
Screen
$8,880
H 20 in W 15 in
Jacob Lawrence The First Book of Moses Called Genesis Bound Book Screenprints
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: The First Book of Moses Called Genesis Medium: Bound book of 8 color screenprints and text, printed by Limited Editions Club, New York; printed at Osiri...
Paper, Screen
$540Sale Price|22% Off
H 35.25 in W 22 in
THE BUILDERS 1985 Commemorative Lithograph Poster, 1st Edition
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Union City, NJ
JACOB LAWRENCE THE BUILDERS 1985 Commemorative Poster - National Urban League 75th Anniversary 1910-1985 Vintage original 1985 printing Poster size - 35.25 x 22 inches, unframed, u...
Offset
$8,900
H 19.125 in W 21.125 in
Jacob Lawrence Carpenters 1997 Lithograph Signed Edition of 300
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: Carpenters Medium: Offset Lithograph in Colors on B.F.K. Rives Paper Edition: 130/300 + 10 AP + 10 HC Publisher: Published by Himan Brown, New York Prin...
Paper, Lithograph
$5,295
H 27 in W 37 in
Jacob Lawrence Pop Art Screenprint, 1977, Signed, "The Swearing In"
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: The Swearing In Portfolio: Inaugural Impressions Medium: Screenprint Date: 1977 Edition: 63/100 Sheet Size: 20" x 30" Frame Size: 27" x 37" Signature: H...
Screen
$24,400
H 30 in W 38.75 in D 1.25 in
"The March" Cubist Screenprint in Colors, Signed, 1995
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Astoria, NY
"The March," 1995, Screenprint in colors on Bainbridge paper, from the series The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture. Signed in pencil and dated lower right, titled lower center, numbered...
Paper, Screen
$5,800
H 33.25 in W 23.5 in
SCHOMBURG LIBRARY 1986 Lithograph, African American History, Black Culture
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Union City, NJ
SCHOMBURG LIBRARY is a hand drawn, limited edition lithograph by the renowned African American artist Jacob Lawrence, printed using traditional hand ...
Lithograph
Delos
By Robert Motherwell
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this color lithograph on TGL handmade paper. Initialed and numbered 6/40 in pencil. Printed and published by Tyler Graphics, Ltd., Mount Kisco, with the bli...
Handmade Paper, Color, Lithograph
The Basque Suite #5
By Robert Motherwell
Located in New York, NY
Color screenprint on J. B. Green paper, 1970-71. Initialed by the artist and numbered 123/150 in pencil, lower right. Printed by Kelpra Studio, London. Published by Marlborough Gra...
Screen, Color
Beacon
By Adolph Gottlieb
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this color lithograph on Arches. Signed, dated and numbered 14/100 in pencil by Gottlieb. Published by Marlborough Graphics, Inc., New York. Catalogue refe...
Color, Lithograph
The Lantern
By Romare Bearden
Located in New York, NY
Color lithograph, 1979. An artist's proof impression, aside from the numbered edition of 175. Signed by the artist in pencil, lower right. Inscribed "AP" (artist's proof) in pencil...
Lithograph, Color
Black Field
By Adolph Gottlieb
Located in New York, NY
Color screenprint on white wove paper, 1972. Signed by the artist dated in pencil lower left. Numbered 67/150 in pencil lower right. Printed by Kelpra Studio, London, with the ink ...
Screen, Color
The Basque Suite #4
By Robert Motherwell
Located in New York, NY
Color screenprinton J. B. Green paper, 1970-71. Initialed by the artist and numbered 85/150 in pencil, lower right. Printed by Kelpra Studio, London. Published by Marlborough Graph...
Screen, Color
