Jacob Lawrence

Who Was Jacob Lawrence?

Jacob Lawrence was one of the most prominent African American artists of the 20th century. Renowned for his dynamic and colorful depictions of the African American experience, Lawrence is best known for narrative series such as The Migration Series and The War Series. His artwork, characterized by vivid colors and striking compositions featuring Black and brown figures, conveyed powerful stories of struggle, resilience, and triumph. In addition to his artistic achievements, Lawrence served as a professor of art at the University of Washington for 15 years, imparting his knowledge to the next generation of artists.

Early Life and Career

Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September 7, 1917, Jacob Lawrence’s early life was marked by significant challenges. At the age of two, he moved with his parents to Easton, Pennsylvania. After his parents separated in 1924, Lawrence and two of his siblings were sent to foster care in Philadelphia, while their mother sought employment in New York. At 13, Lawrence and his siblings reunited with their mother, who was now living in Harlem.

It was in Harlem that Lawrence’s artistic talents began to blossom. Encouraged by his mother, who recognized his potential, she enrolled him in the Utopia Children’s Center, where he participated in an after-school art program. Although Lawrence dropped out of school at 16, he continued to pursue his passion for art, studying at the Harlem Art Workshop under the mentorship of artist Charles Alston. Lawrence frequently visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he was inspired by the work of other artists and honed his craft.

The Migration Series

In 1937, Jacob Lawrence received a scholarship to the American Artists School in New York. Upon graduating in 1939, he was awarded funding from the Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project. By this time, Lawrence had developed his own unique style of modernism, characterized by narrative series in which he would create 30 or more paintings exploring a single theme. His most famous work, The Migration Series, was completed in 1941. The series was first exhibited in 1942 at Edith Halpert’s Downtown Gallery, making Lawrence the first African American artist to join the gallery.

World War II and After

With the outbreak of World War II, Lawrence was drafted into the United States Coast Guard. After brief postings in Florida and Massachusetts, he was assigned as the Coast Guard artist aboard a troopship, where he documented the war experience while traveling the globe. During this period, Lawrence created nearly 50 paintings, though all of them were ultimately lost.

War Series

Upon completing his military service, Lawrence was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, which allowed him to focus on painting his War Series. During this time, he was invited by renowned artist Josef Albers to teach a summer session at Black Mountain College in North Carolina. Albers took special care to arrange for Lawrence and his wife to travel in a private train car, ensuring they would not be forced to ride in the “colored” car as the train crossed the Mason-Dixon Line.

Upon returning to New York, Lawrence continued to refine his artistic practice, though he began to struggle with depression. In 1949, he sought treatment at Hillside Hospital in Queens, where he remained for nearly a year. During his time there, Lawrence’s artwork shifted to reflect his emotional turmoil, using more subdued colors and melancholic figures—a stark contrast to his earlier works.

In 1951, Lawrence created a series of paintings inspired by his memories of performances at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. He also returned to teaching, first at Pratt Institute, and later at the New School for Social Research and the Art Students League.

Teaching and Commissions

In 1971, Lawrence accepted a tenured position as a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he taught until his retirement in 1986. Alongside his teaching, Lawrence continued to produce commissioned works, creating limited-edition prints to support nonprofits such as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Children’s Defense Fund, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. His murals adorned institutions including the Harold Washington Center in Chicago, the University of Washington, Howard University, and the Times Square subway station in New York City, where he painted a 72-foot mural.

Death

Jacob Lawrence continued to paint up until a few weeks before his death on June 9, 2000.

Wife

In 1941, Lawrence married Gwendolyn Knight, a talented sculptor and painter. Knight was a strong supporter of his work, providing both assistance and constructive criticism, and played a significant role in helping him compose captions for many of his series.