Charles W. White facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles White
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| Born |
Charles Wilbert White, Jr.
April 2, 1918 |
| Died | October 3, 1979 (aged 61) Los Angeles, California, United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | School of the Art Institute of Chicago |
| Known for | painting; visual art |
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Notable work
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The Contribution of the Negro to American Democracy |
| Movement | New Negro Movement (Chicago Black Renaissance) |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Catlett (m. 1941-1946; divorced) Frances Barrett (m. 1950-1979; his death) |
Charles Wilbert White, Jr. (born April 2, 1918 – died October 3, 1979) was an American artist. He was famous for showing the lives of African Americans in his paintings, drawings, and murals. White wanted to share the triumphs and struggles of his community. His art made him one of the most well-known African American artists in history.
After he passed away in 1979, White's artwork was added to many important museums. These include the Art Institute of Chicago and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. His most famous work is a mural called The Contribution of the Negro to American Democracy. This mural is at Hampton University. In 2018, a big art show celebrated 100 years since his birth. It was organized by the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Modern Art.
Contents
Growing Up and Learning Art
Charles Wilbert White was born on April 2, 1918, in Chicago. His mother, Ethelene Gary, was a domestic worker. His father, Charles White Sr., worked on railroads and construction. Charles's mother often took him to the Chicago Public Library. There, he fell in love with art and reading at a young age.
When Charles was seven, his mother bought him oil paints. This made him even more excited about painting. He also enjoyed music, dance, and theater. But art was always his biggest passion. His mother also took him to the Art Institute of Chicago. He loved looking at paintings there.
Charles grew up without much money. He often painted on anything he could find. This included shirts, cardboard, and window blinds. When he was 14, he got a job painting signs. This helped him learn how to mix paints. He even sat in on an art class at a park to learn more.
White's mother sent him to Mississippi twice a year. He visited his aunts there. They taught him about his family's history and African American stories. Charles faced challenges but used his experiences to shape his art. He wanted to show the often-ignored history of African Americans. As a teenager, he became an artist for the National Negro Congress in Chicago. He even got arrested once while protesting with other Black artists.
Art School Challenges
In seventh grade, Charles won a scholarship for art classes. These classes were at the Art Institute of Chicago. He read a book by Alain LeRoy Locke called The New Negro: An Interpretation. This book changed his views on society. He learned about important African American figures. He asked his teachers why they weren't taught in school. This made some people call him a "rebel."
White did not finish high school. He felt disappointed with the teaching system. He won several art scholarships, but they were taken away. They were given to white students instead. Two art schools accepted him, but then took back their offers because of his race.
Finally, White received a full scholarship. He went to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He was a great artist there. He took many drawing classes and earned top grades. To pay for art supplies, he worked as a cook. Later, he became an art teacher at St. Elizabeth Catholic High School.
Artistic Journey
In 1940, White said he wanted his art to speak out. He believed paint was his "weapon" to fight against things he disliked. In 1938, he worked for the Illinois Art Project. This was part of a government program called the Works Progress Administration. His art was shown at a big exhibition in Chicago. This show celebrated 75 years since slavery ended.
White was an important artist in the Chicago Black Renaissance. He taught art classes at the South Side Community Art Center. His work was shown in many places across the United States. These included the Roko Gallery and the Whitney Museum of American Art. In 1939, he created a mural called Five Great American Negroes. It is now at Howard University. His art was also shown in Poland and Russia. In 1976, his work was part of a major exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It was called Two Centuries of Black American Art.
Moving and Learning New Skills
In 1941, White moved to New Orleans. He taught at Dillard University. He was briefly married to the famous sculptor and printmaker Elizabeth Catlett. She also taught at Dillard. White served in the US Army during World War II. He was discharged because he got tuberculosis.
White and Catlett moved to New York City. There, White learned new art techniques like lithography and etching. He studied at the Arts Student League. His teacher, Harry Sternberg, encouraged him to make his figures more unique. This helped White improve his skills. He also developed a deeper understanding of Black society. White and Catlett met Viktor Lowenfeld, who taught at Hampton University. Lowenfeld invited them to teach there. White then painted one of his most famous works, The Contribution of the Negro to American Democracy, at Hampton University.
Art for Everyone
Printmaking helped White share his art with more people. It allowed him to combine his social beliefs with his art. He could reach a large community of Black workers and artists. His paintings were often bought by individuals. But his lithographs and linocuts could be shared more widely.
He drew political cartoons for a newspaper called the Daily Worker. In 1953, he released a collection of six drawings. It was called 'Charles White: Six Drawings'. It cost only $3. This made art available to many people. White was happy to learn that workers in Alabama saved their money to buy a copy. They shared the pictures among themselves.
Later Life and Teaching
In 1956, White moved to Los Angeles. He had breathing problems, possibly from his earlier illness. Los Angeles had a drier climate that helped him. From 1965 until his death in 1979, White taught at the Otis College of Art and Design. He was a mentor for many African American artists. Some of his students included David Hammons and Kerry James Marshall. An elementary school is named after him in Los Angeles. White lived in Altadena, California, until he died in 1979. He passed away from heart failure.
White's most famous work is the mural The Contribution of the Negro to American Democracy. It is at Hampton University. The mural is about 12 feet by seven feet. It shows many important African Americans. These include Denmark Vesey, Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass. In 1972, White was chosen to be part of the National Academy of Design.
His Lasting Impact
Charles White was inspired by many artists. These included his first wife Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, and Romare Bearden. White also inspired a new generation of Black artists. Some of these artists were Benny Andrews and Faith Ringgold.
White's artworks are in many museums and institutions. These include the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The CEJJES Institute in New York has many of White's works. They even have a special gallery just for him. In 2015, a couple named Susan G. and Edmund W. Gordon donated their collection of White's art. It went to the Blanton Museum of Art in Texas.
After he died, White's popularity decreased for a while. This was partly because the art world often favored white artists. It also preferred more abstract art styles. White's art focused on realistic figures. However, White's legacy lives on in Altadena, California. He spent many of his later years there.
Soon after his death, a park was named after him. It is the only park named after an American-born artist. The Charles White Park used to host an annual arts festival. It brought African American and local artists together. The festival stopped in the 1990s. But people in Altadena are working to bring it back to the community.
