List of African-American visual artists facts for kids

Robert Scott Duncanson, Landscape with Rainbow c. 1859, Hudson River School, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC.

This article shares a list of amazing African-American visual artists! These artists create beautiful and powerful artworks that you can see. They use many different ways to make art, like painting, sculpture, photography, and printmaking. Some also create newer types of art, such as installation art (art that fills a space), performance art (art acted out), video art, and digital art.

This list includes artists from history and today. You'll find their names here, sorted from A to Z by their last name.

Meet the Artists: A to Z

Here are some of the talented African-American visual artists. They have created incredible works that tell stories, share feelings, and show the world in new ways.

Artists A–B

• Panteha Abareshi (born 1999), a versatile artist working in many styles.
• Nina Chanel Abney (born 1982), known for her bold paintings.
• Blanch Ackers (1914–2003), a painter.
• Terry Adkins (1953–2014), a unique artist.
• Mequitta Ahuja (born 1976), a painter and installation artist.
• Larry D. Alexander (born 1953), a painter.
• Laylah Ali (born 1968), a painter.
• Jules T. Allen (born 1947), a photographer.
• Tina Allen (1949–2008), a sculptor.
• Steve R. Allen (born 1954), a painter.
• Charles Alston (1907–1977), a painter.
• Amalia Amaki (born 1959), an artist.
• Emma Amos (1938–2020), a painter.
• Benny Andrews (1930–2006), a painter.
• Edgar Arceneaux (born 1972), known for his drawings.
• Nellie Ashford (born circa 1943), a folk artist.
• James Atkins (born 1941), a painter.
• Roland Ayers (1932–2014), a printmaker.
• Radcliffe Bailey (born 1968), creates collages and sculptures.
• Kyle Baker (born 1965), a cartoonist.
• Matt Baker (1921–1959), a comic book artist.
• James Presley Ball (1825–1904), a photographer.
• Alvin Baltrop (1948–2004), a photographer.
• Henry Bannarn (1910–1965), a painter.
• Edward Mitchell Bannister (1828–1901), a painter.
• Ernie Barnes (1938–2009), a neo-Mannerist artist.
• Richmond Barthé (1901–1989), a sculptor.
• Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988), a painter.
• C. M. Battey (1873–1927), a photographer.
• Romare Bearden (1911–1988), a painter.
• Arthello Beck (1941–2004), a painter.
• Arthur P. Bedou (1882–1966), a photographer.
• Darrin Bell (born 1975), a cartoonist.
• Mary A. Bell (1873–1941).
• Dawoud Bey (born 1953), a photographer.
• Sharif Bey (born 1974), a ceramist.
• John T. Biggers (1924–2001), known for his murals.
• Sanford Biggers (born 1970), an interdisciplinary artist.
• Gene Bilbrew (1923–1974), a cartoonist.
• Camille Billops (1933–2019), a filmmaker, sculptor, painter, and printmaker.
• McArthur Binion (born 1946), a painter.
• Robert Blackburn (1920–2003), a master printmaker and educator.
• Thomas Blackshear (born 1955).
• Betty Blayton (1937–2016), a painter and printmaker.
• Chakaia Booker (born 1953), a sculptor.
• Edythe Boone (born 1938), a muralist.
• Charles Boyce (born 1949), a cartoonist.
• Tina Williams Brewer, a fiber artist.
• James Brantley (born 1945), a painter.
• Mark Bradford (born 1961).
• Elenora "Rukiya" Brown, a doll creator.
• Elmer Brown (1909–1971).
• Frank J. Brown (1956–2020), a sculptor.
• Frederick J. Brown (1945–2012), a painter.
• Larry Poncho Brown (born 1962).
• Manuelita Brown, a sculptor.
• Robert Brown (circa 1936 – 2007), a cartoonist.
• Beverly Buchanan (1940–2015), a painter and sculptor.
• Selma Burke (1900–1995), a sculptor.
• Calvin Burnett (1921–2007), a book illustrator.
• Pauline Powell Burns (1872–1912), a painter.
• John Bush (?–1754), a powder horn carver.
• Bisa Butler (born 1973), a quilter.
• Robert Butler (1943–2014), a painter.

Artists C–D

• Frank Calloway (1915–2014).
• E. Simms Campbell (1906–1971), a cartoonist.
• Allen 'Big Al' Carter (1947–2008).
• Fred Carter (1938–2023), a cartoonist.
• Bernie Casey (1939–2017), a painter.
• Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012), a sculptor and printmaker.
• Nick Cave (born 1959), a performance artist.
• Michael Ray Charles (born 1967), a painter.
• Barbara Chase-Riboud (born 1936), a sculptor.
• Jamour Chames (born 1989), a painter.
• Don Hogan Charles (1938–2017), a photographer.
• Caitlin Cherry (born 1987), a painter and sculptor.
• Claude Clark (1915–2001), a painter and printmaker.
• Edward Clark (1926–2019), a painter.
• Sonya Clark (born 1967), a textile and multimedia artist.
• Willie Cole (born 1955), a painter.
• Robert Colescott (1925–2009), a painter.
• Eldzier Cortor (1916–2015), an artist and printmaker.
• Pamela Council (born 1986), a multidisciplinary artist and sculptor.
• Ernest Crichlow (1914–2005), a social realist artist.
• Allan Crite (1910–2007), a painter.
• Njideka Akunyili Crosby (born 1983), a painter.
• Emilio Cruz (1938–2004), a painter.
• Frank E. Cummings III (born 1938), a woodworker.
• Michael Cummings (born 1945), a textile artist.
• Ulysses Davis (1913–1990), a sculptor.
• Bing Davis (born 1937), a potter and graphic artist.
• Charles C. Dawson (1889–1981), an illustrator, painter, and printmaker.
• Roy DeCarava (1919–2009), a photographer.
• Beauford Delaney (1901–1979), a painter.
• Joseph Delaney (1904–1991).
• Nadine M. DeLawrence (1953–1992), an American sculptor and installation artist.
• Xiomara De Oliver (born 1967), a Canadian-born American painter.
• Woody De Othello (born 1991), a ceramicist and painter.
• Rosetta DeBerardinis, a painter.
• Louis Delsarte (1944–2020), an artist.
• Cheryl Derricotte, a glass artist and printmaker.
• Joseph Clinton Devillis (1878–1912), a painter.
• Thornton Dial (1928–2016).
• Terry Dixon (born 1969), a painter and multimedia artist.
• Jeff Donaldson (1932–2004), a painter and critic.
• Aaron Douglas (1899–1979), a painter.
• Emory Douglas (born 1943), a Black Panther artist.
• John E. Dowell Jr. (born 1941), a printmaker, etcher, lithographer, and painter.
• David Driskell (1931–2020), an artist and scholar.
• Robert Seldon Duncanson (1821–1872), part of the Hudson River School.
• Edward Dwight (born 1933), a sculptor, painter, and author.

Artists E–H

• Walter Edmonds (1938–2011), a muralist.
• William Edmondson (1874–1951), a folk art sculptor.
• Allan L. Edmunds (born 1949), a printmaker.
• Mel Edwards (born 1937), a sculptor.
• Janiva Ellis (born 1987), a painter.
• Walter Ellison (1899–1977), a painter.
• Minnie Evans (1892–1987), a folk artist.
• Lola Flash (born 1959), a photographer.
• LaToya Ruby Frazier (born 1982), a photographer.
• Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller (1877–1968), an artist.
• George Gadson, an artist and sculptor.
• Ellen Gallagher (born 1965).
• Reginald Gammon (1921–2005), a painter, printmaker, and activist.
• Melvino Garretti (born 1946).
• Theaster Gates (born 1973), a sculptor, ceramicist, and performance artist.
• Reginald K (Kevin) Gee (born 1964), a painter.
• Herbert Gentry (1919–2003), a painter.
• Wilda Gerideau-Squires (born 1946), a photographer.
• Robert A. Gilbert (circa 1870 – 1942), a nature photographer.
• Leah Gilliam (born 1967), a media artist and filmmaker.
• Sam Gilliam (1933–2022), a painter.
• Russell T. Gordon (1936–2013), a printmaker.
• Billy Graham (1935–1999), a comic book artist.
• Lonnie Graham, a photographer and installation artist.
• Deborah Grant (born 1968), a painter.
• Todd Gray (born 1954), a photographer, installation, and performance artist.
• Leamon Green (born 1959).
• Renee Green (born 1959), an installation artist.
• Mario Gully, a comic book artist.
• Tyree Guyton (born 1955).
• Ed Hamilton (born 1947), a sculptor.
• Patrick Earl Hammie (born 1981), a painter.
• David Hammons (born 1943), an artist.
• Trenton Doyle Hancock (born 1974).
• Austin Hansen (1910–1996), a photographer.
• John Wesley Hardrick (1891–1948), a painter.
• Edwin Harleston (1882–1931), a painter.
• Elise Forrest Harleston (1891–1970), a photographer.
• Jerry Harris (1945–2016), a sculptor.
• John T. Harris (1908–1972), a painter, printmaker, and educator.
• Kira Lynn Harris (born 1963), a multidisciplinary artist.
• Lawrence Harris (born 1937), a painter.
• Ilana Harris-Babou (born 1991), a sculptor and installation artist.
• Marren Hassenger (born 1947), a sculptor, installation, and performance artist.
• Palmer Hayden (1893–1973), a painter.
• Donté K. Hayes (born 1975), a ceramicist.
• Barkley Hendricks (1945–2017), a painter.
• Nestor Hernández (1961–2006), a photographer.
• George Herriman (1880–1944), a cartoonist.
• LaToya M. Hobbs (born 1988), a printmaker, painter, and mixed media artist.
• Alvin Hollingsworth (1928–2000), an illustrator and painter.
• Humbert Howard (1905 or 1915–1990), a painter and ceramicist.
• William Howard (active 19th century), an American woodworker and craftsman.
• Bryce Hudson (born 1979), a painter and sculptor.
• Julien Hudson (1811–1844), a painter and sculptor.
• David Huffman (born 1963), a painter.
• Edward Ellis Hughes (1940–2017), a painter.
• Richard Hunt (1935–2023), a sculptor.
• Clementine Hunter (1886/7–1988), a folk artist.

Artists J–O

• Wadsworth Jarrell (born 1929), a painter and sculptor.
• Oliver Lee Jackson (born 1935), a painter, sculptor, printmaker, and educator.
• Suzanne Jackson, an artist and gallery owner.
• Tomashi Jackson (born 1980), a multimedia artist, painter, videographer, textile-maker, and sculptor.
• Steffani Jemison (born 1981), a performance artist and video artist.
• Wilmer Angier Jennings (1910–1990), a printmaker, painter, and jeweler.
• Annette P. Jimerson (born 1966), a painter.
• Joshua Johnson (circa 1763 – circa 1824), a portrait painter and folk artist.
• LeRoy Johnson (1937–1922), a multidisciplinary artist.
• Malvin Gray Johnson (1896–1934), a painter.
• Martina Johnson-Allen (born 1947), a painter, sculptor, printmaker, and educator.
• Rashid Johnson (born 1977), a conceptual artist.
• Sargent Johnson (1888–1967), a sculptor.
• William H. Johnson (1902–1970).
• Calvin B. Jones (1934–2010), a painter and muralist.
• Ida E. Jones, a painter.
• Jennie C. Jones (born 1968), a multidisciplinary artist.
• Lois Mailou Jones (1905–1998), a painter.
• Lawrence A. Jones (1910–1996), an artist and teacher.
• Samuel Levi Jones (born 1978), a painter and assemblage artist.
• Seitu Jones (born 1951), a multidisciplinary artist and sculptor.
• Eddie Jack Jordan (1925–1999), an artist and teacher.
• Ronald Joseph (1910–1992), an artist, teacher, and printmaker.
• Titus Kaphar (born 1976), a painter.
• Richard Gordon Kendall (1933–2008), a Texas-based outsider artist.
• Autumn Knight (born 1980), an interdisciplinary artist working with performance, installation, and text.
• Gwendolyn Knight (1914–2005), an artist.
• Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000), a painter.
• Deana Lawson (born 1979), a photographer.
• Carolyn Lazard (born 1987), a conceptual artist.
• Hughie Lee-Smith (1915–1999), an artist.
• Simone Leigh (born 1967), known for sculpture and ceramics.
• Edmonia Lewis (circa 1843 – 1879), an artist.
• Nate Lewis (born 1985), a visual artist.
• Norman Lewis (1909–1979), a painter.
• Joe Louis Light (1934–2005), a painter and sculptor.
• Glenn Ligon (born 1960), a painter.
• James Little (born 1952), a painter and curator.
• Willie Little (born 1961), a multimedia artist, painter, sculptor, and author.
• Llanakila, an artist, painter, digital illustrator, and digital artist.
• Edward L. Loper, Sr. (1916–2011), a painter.
• Whitfield Lovell (born 1960), an artist.
• Alvin D. Loving (1935–2005), an artist.
• Eric N. Mack (born 1987), a painter, multi-media installation artist, and sculptor.
• Gwendolyn Ann Magee (1943–2011), an artist and quilter.
• Clarence Major (born 1936), a painter.
• Ajuan Mance, a visual artist and professor.
• Kerry James Marshall (born 1955), a painter.
• Eugene J. Martin (1938–2005), a painter.
• Louise Martin (1911–1995), a photographer.
• Percy Martin, a printmaker.
• Richard Mayhew (born 1934), an Afro-Native American landscape painter.
• Valerie Maynard (1937–2022), a sculptor, printmaker, and painter.
• Ealy Mays (born 1959), a painter.
• Lester Julian Merriweather (born 1978), a collagist and painter.
• William McBride (artist) (1912–2000), an artist, designer, and collector.
• Howard McCalebb (born 1947), an artist.
• Corky McCoy, an illustrator.
• Charles McGee, (1924–2021) a painter.
• Charles McGill (1964–2017), an artist and educator.
• Julie Mehretu (born 1970), a painter and printmaker.
• Troy Michie (born 1985), a collage artist, painter, interdisciplinary installation artist, and sculptor.
• Nicole Miller (born 1982), a video artist.
• Joe Minter (born 1943), a sculptor and creator of African Village in America.
• Dean Mitchell (born 1957), a painter.
• Evangeline Montgomery, known for metal art and printmaking.
• Scipio Moorhead (active 1770s), a painter.
• Barbara Tyson Mosley (born 1950), an abstract painter.
• Charles Franklin Moss (1878–1961), a photographer and painter.
• Archibald Motley (1891–1981), a painter.
• Zora J. Murff (born 1987), a photographer.
• Wangechi Mutu (born 1972), a painter and sculptor.
• Gus Nall (1919–1995), a painter.
• Senga Nengudi (born 1943), a sculptor and performance artist.
• Harold Newton (1934–1994), an artist.
• Lorraine O'Grady (born 1934), a conceptual artist.
• Turtel Onli (born 1952), a cartoonist.
• Jackie Ormes (1911–1985), a cartoonist.
• John Outterbridge (1933–2020), an assemblage artist.
• Joe Overstreet (1933–2019), an artist.

Artists P–S

• Jennifer Packer (born 1985), a painter.
• Norman Parish, a painter, muralist, and art dealer.
• Gordon Parks (1912–2006), a photographer and director.
• Sandra Payne (1951–2021), a collagist, sculptor, and conceptual artist.
• Cecelia Pedescleaux (born 1945), a quilter.
• Janet Taylor Pickett (born 1948), a mixed media artist.
• Delilah Pierce (1904–1992), an artist.
• Earle M. Pilgrim (1923–1976), an artist.
• Howardena Pindell (born 1943), a painter.
• Jefferson Pinder, known for performance art.
• Jerry Pinkney (1939–2021), an illustrator.
• Adrian Piper (born 1948), a conceptual artist.
• Rose Piper (1917–2005), a painter and textile designer.
• Horace Pippin (1888–1946), a painter.
• P. H. Polk (1898–1984), a photographer.
• Stephanie Pogue (1944–2002), a printmaker.
• Carl Robert Pope (born 1961), a photographer.
• William Pope.L (born 1955), a conceptual artist.
• Charles Ethan Porter (1847/49–1923), a painter.
• Harriet Powers (1837–1910), a folk artist.
• Walter Price (artist) (born 1989), a painter.
• Martin Puryear (born 1941), a sculptor.
• Mavis Pusey (1928–2019), an abstract painter.
• Bob Ragland (1938–2021), a painter and sculptor.
• Patrick H. Reason (1816–1898).
• Earle Wilton Richardson (1912–1935), an artist.
• Taft Richardson Jr. (1943–2008), a folk artist.
• Faith Ringgold (born 1930), a painter.
• Haywood Rivers (1922–2001), a painter.
• Amber Robles-Gordon, an installation artist.
• Arthur Rose Sr. (1921–1995), a multidisciplinary artist.
• Bayeté Ross Smith (born 1976), a photographer.
• Susan Smith-Pinelo, known for video and performance art.
• Alison Saar (born 1956), an artist.
• Betye Saar (born 1926), an artist.
• Synthia Saint James (born 1949), a painter.
• Charles L. Sallée Jr. (1923–2006), a painter.
• Reginald Sanders (1921–2001), a visual artist.
• Raymond Saunders (born 1934), a painter.
• Augusta Savage (1892–1962), a sculptor.
• Dread Scott (born 1965), known for performance, photography, installation, screen-printing, and video art.
• John T. Scott (1940–2007), an artist.
• Joyce J. Scott (born 1948), a sculptor.
• Lorenzo Scott (born 1934), a painter.
• William Edouard Scott (1884–1964), a painter.
• Charles Searles (1937–2004), a painter and sculptor.
• Charles Sebree (1914–1985), a painter.
• Gail Shaw-Clemons, a printmaker and educator.
• Thomas Sills (1914–2000), a painter.
• Gary Simmons (born 1964), an artist.
• Lorna Simpson (born 1960), an artist.
• Merton Simpson (1928–2013), a painter.
• William Simpson (1818–1872), a portrait painter.
• Ferrari Sheppard (born 1983), a painter.
• Amy Sherald (born 1973), a painter.
• Carroll Sockwell (1943–1992), an abstract painter.
• Jeff Sonhouse (born 1968), a painter.
• Cauleen Smith (born 1967), a filmmaker.
• Leslie Smith III (born 1985), a painter.
• Vincent D. Smith (1929–2003), a painter and printmaker.
• William E. Smith (1913–1997), a painter and printmaker.
• Gilda Snowden (1954–2014).
• Mitchell Squire (born 1958), an American installation artist, sculptor, and performance artist.
• Raymond Steth (1916–1997).
• Renee Stout (born 1958), an artist.
• Lou Stovall, a printmaker.
• Thelma Johnson Streat (1911–1959), an American painter, dancer, and educator.
• Martine Syms (born 1988), an artist.

Artists T–Z

• Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859–1937), an artist.
• Ron Tarver (born 1957), a photographer, artist, and educator.
• Mary Lee Tate (1893–1939), a painter and decorative artist.
• U.S. Grant Tayes (1885–1972), a painter, barber, musician, columnist, and educator.
• Margaret Taylor-Burroughs (1915–2010).
• Alma Thomas (1891–1978), a painter.
• Hank Willis Thomas (born 1976), a photographer.
• Mickalene Thomas (born 1971), a painter and installation artist.
• Bob Thompson (1937–1966), a painter.
• Mildred Thompson (1935–2003), an abstract painter, printmaker, and sculptor.
• Dox Thrash (1892–1962), a printmaker and sculptor.
• Bill Traylor (1856–1949).
• Henry Taylor (born 1958), a painter.
• Yvonne Edwards Tucker (born 1941), a potter.
• Adejoke Tugbiyele (born 1977), a sculptor and multidisciplinary artist.
• Morrie Turner (1923–2014), a cartoonist.
• James Van Der Zee (1886–1983), a photographer.
• Kara Walker (born 1969), an artist.
• William Walker (1927–2011), a Chicago muralist.
• Eugene Warburg, (1825–1859), a sculptor.
• Laura Wheeler Waring (1887–1948), a painter.
• E. M. Washington (born 1962), a printmaker.
• Cullen Washington, Jr. (born 1972), an abstract painter.
• James W. Washington, Jr. (1908–2000), a painter and sculptor.
• Howard N. Watson (1929–2022), a watercolor painter.
• Richard J. Watson (born 1946), a painter and printmaker.
• Lewis Watts.
• Carrie Mae Weems (born 1953), a photographer.
• Joyce Wellman (born 1949), a painter and printmaker.
• Pheoris West (1950–2021).
• Charles Wilbert White (1918–1979), a muralist.
• Fo Wilson, an interdisciplinary artist and designer.
• Jack Whitten (1939–2018), a painter.
• Kehinde Wiley (born 1977), a painter.
• Gerald Williams (artist) (born 1941), a painter.
• William T. Williams (born 1942), a painter.
• Deborah Willis (born 1948), a photographer.
• Ellis Wilson (1899–1977), a painter.
• Fred Wilson (born 1954), a conceptual artist.
• Wilmer Wilson IV, known for performance and photography.
• John Woodrow Wilson (1922–2015), a sculptor.
• Beulah Woodard (1895–1955), a sculptor.
• Hale Woodruff (1900–1980), a painter.
• Richard Wyatt, Jr. (born 1955), a painter and muralist.
• Richard Yarde (1939–2011), a watercolorist.
• Joseph Yoakum (1890–1972), a self-taught landscape artist.
• Kenneth Victor Young (1933–2017), a painter, designer, and educator.
• Purvis Young (1943–2010), an artist.

Artist Groups

Some artists also come together to form groups. These groups often share ideas or work towards common goals in art.

• The Highwaymen
• AfriCOBRA
• Where We At
• Spiral (arts alliance)

Learn More About Art

• Harlem Renaissance
• African-American art
• The Quilts of Gees Bend
• Black Arts Movement
• List of American artists before 1900
• List of American artists 1900 and after

Images for kids

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  Scipio Moorhead, Portrait of poet Phillis Wheatley, 1773, in the frontispiece to her book Poems on Various Subjects

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  Edward Mitchell Bannister, Driving Home the Cows 1881

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  Harriet Powers, Bible quilt, mixed media, 1886

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  Henry Ossawa Tanner, Gateway, Tangier, 1912, oil on canvas

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  Charles Alston, Again The Springboard Of Civilization, 1943 (WWII African American soldier)

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  Larry D. Alexander,Greenville Courthouse, 1998