Object of the Month: Jacob Lawrence

Recently acquired by the Museum, Jacob Lawrence’s In the Studio, 1977, is a self-portrait of one of the leading artists of the twentieth century. Lawrence was known for his portrayal of African American life, with series inspired by communities in Harlem, where he trained as an artist. This talk will explore the artist’s biography and style, connecting his work to a long line of artistic predecessors, and considering it in the light of recent scholarship and reconsideration of the artist.

Jacob Lawrence’s work is in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the MoMA, the Whitney Museum, the Phillips Collection, the Brooklyn Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and Reynolda House Museum of American Art.