Barbara Jones-Hogu facts for kids

Barbara Jones-Hogu (born April 17, 1938 – died November 14, 2017) was an amazing African-American artist. She was famous for her art with the Organization of Black American Culture (OBAC). She also helped start a group of artists called AfriCOBRA.

Who Was Barbara Jones-Hogu?

Barbara Jones-Hogu was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1938. She loved learning and studied art at several universities. She earned degrees from Howard University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She also got master's degrees from the Institute of Design and the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Even when she was in her early seventies, she went back to school! She studied film and digital imaging at Governors State University. She wanted to learn how to make films to share the stories of other artists. People described her as a thoughtful and private person. She had one son, Kuumba Hogu. He wanted his mother to be remembered through her beautiful artwork.

Her Artistic Journey

Barbara Jones-Hogu was a member of the Organization of Black American Culture (OBAC). In 1967, she helped create the famous Wall of Respect mural. This was a huge street mural in the United States. She worked on the section that honored actors.

She discovered her love for printmaking while studying at the Art Institute of Chicago. She found it exciting to create art using printing techniques. She even got a special key to the printmaking studio. This allowed her to work on her art whenever she wanted, often on evenings and weekends.

Starting AfriCOBRA

In 1968, Jones-Hogu helped create AfriCOBRA. This was a group of African-American artists in Chicago. They wanted to make art that spoke to their community.

One of her most famous artworks from this time is "Unite." This piece has been shown in many art exhibitions, including at the Tate Modern in London. The idea for "Unite" came from a sculpture by Elizabeth Catlett. It was also inspired by the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute. Jones-Hogu said she wanted people to "unite as a people under this concept."

She also created "Resist Law and Order in a Sick Society." Many of her artworks use important phrases as their titles.

Art with a Message

Jones-Hogu also made a powerful work called "Stop Genocide." She believed that gangs could work together for good. But she felt they were hurting themselves instead of fighting against "white on black genocide and crime."

She used different types of paper for her prints. She often worked at the Illinois Institute of Technology because she didn't have her own studio. She created many works that featured the flag for her master's project.

In 2011, she appeared in a film called "AfriCOBRA: Art For The People." She said, "The people we were making art for looked like us." Her art changed after she joined AfriCOBRA. At first, her work showed negative feelings about racial politics. But later, her art became more hopeful and positive. For example, her 1971 print Relate to Your Heritage showed black women in royal clothes. She wanted to show positive messages in her art, and this was a main idea for AfriCOBRA too.

Around 1973, Jones-Hogu started drawing more and printmaking less. This was because her son became sick from paint fumes. She used oil-based inks for her prints. She had her first solo art show, which featured her prints and drawings. This show was held at a gallery owned by African-American artists.

She was very good at printmaking, which made her stand out in AfriCOBRA. Many other artists in the group were painters. She learned to do block printing and intaglio. Later, she opened her own shop and made silkscreen prints. She even made lithographs to raise money, and the famous entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. reportedly bought one.

Community Involvement

Barbara Jones-Hogu was very involved with the South Side Community Art Center. Her work was first shown there in the early 1970s. She later donated many of her prints to the Center. Sadly, some of her prints were lost due to flooding in her basement.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she started using pastels and colored pencils. She created many portraits, including one of Lurlean Dean.

Her Legacy

Jones-Hogu's art style combines political messages, images, and text. Her work is displayed in many museums. These include the Art Institute of Chicago, The Brooklyn Museum, the National Civil Rights Museum, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Her art has also been featured in many books about African-American women artists.

Her first solo museum exhibition was in 2018 at the DePaul Art Museum in Chicago. It was called Barbara Jones-Hogu: Resist, Relate, Unite 1968–1975. Many people didn't realize how much art she had created until later in her life. A special book about her art was created for the exhibition.

Important Artworks by Barbara Jones-Hogu

Barbara Jones-Hogu created many important artworks. Her art is known for its strong messages and unique style. She was a very important artist in the AfriCOBRA movement. Her independent work spans from the 1960s and 70s until her death in 2017.

Selected Works

• Getting the Game Together, 1967, woodcut
• Man's Return, 1967, woodcut
• Be Your Brother’s Keeper, 1968, screenprint
• The Land Where My Father Died, 1968, screenprint
• America II, 1969, screenprint
• Nation Time, 1969, screenprint
• One People Unite, 1969, color screenprint
• Unite (First State), 1969, screenprint
• Stop Genocide, 1970, screenprint
• Unite, 1971, screenprint
• Nation Time (II), 1971, screenprint
• High Priestess, 1971, screenprint
• Rise and Take Control, 1971, screenprint
• Relate to Your Heritage, 1971, screenprint
• Black Men We Need You, 1971, color screenprint
• To Be Free (TCB), 1971, screenprint
• God's Child, 2009, screenprint

See also

• AfriCOBRA
• Jae Jarrell
• Jeff Donaldson
• Wadsworth Jarrell
• Gerald Williams