Famous African American Paintings

Yo, ever asked yourself: *“Who’s the OG Picasso of Black art?”* Let’s talk—Henry Ossawa Tanner might just be the answer you didn’t know you needed. Born in Philly in 1859, this man wasn’t just painting—he was breaking ceilings with a brush like he’d borrowed keys from the Almighty Himself. His 1893 masterpiece, *“The Banjo Lesson”*? More than oil on canvas—it’s a love letter to Black kinship, patience, and pride in a time when folks barely saw us as *people*, let alone poets or philosophers. And get this: he was the first African American artist to go *global*—deadass. Got chased outta Fairmount Park sketching white dudes… and still sailed to Paris, got adopted by the French art elite, and became the quiet thunder before the storm. His legacy? It’s the bedrock. Every famous African American painting after him walks on ground he laid—brick by golden brick.

If you think famous African American paintings are just collecting dust in some backroom vault—nah, sugarplum. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s *“Untitled”* (1982)? That skull-faced banger didn’t just break records—it *shattered the glass ceiling with a sledgehammer and left glitter in the rubble*. Sold for $110.5 million in 2017—highest ever for a U.S. artist at the time. 🤯 Then there’s Kerry James Marshall’s *“Past Times”* (1997)—a sun-drenched clapback to exclusion, where Black joy lounges poolside like it *owns the whole damn country*—and pulled in $21.1 million in 2018. Oh, and Alma Thomas? Her radiant *“Resurrection”* (’66) ain’t hangin’ in some side gallery—it’s *in the White House*, baby. These ain’t just *paintings*—they’re cultural landmines wrapped in cadmium red and cobalt blue. And honey? They *detonate* every time you look close.

Pop quiz: Which famous African American painting went for $70 mil? Tricky 🍵—’cause *none did*. But here’s the real tea, served iced with a slice of truth: Basquiat’s *“Untitled”* didn’t just *hit* $70M… it *vaulted* over it like a Harlem sprinter clearing hurdles—landing at a crisp $110.5 million. So why’s that $70M rumor clingin’ like cheap cologne? ‘Cause for *generations*, the art world treated Black genius like yesterday’s news—until the receipts got too loud to ignore. That 2017 sale? Wasn’t just a transaction—it was a *wake-up call with a megaphone*. Suddenly, collectors who’d been side-eyeing famous African American paintings like they were suspicious packages were scrambling: *“Wait—we slept on *WHAT*?!”* Irony so thick, you could fry it up with grits and call it breakfast.

Sure, *Mona Lisa’s* got the bulletproof case and the Louvre selfie line stretching to the Seine—but let’s keep it 100: her mystery smile ain’t tellin’ *our* story. Meanwhile, Jacob Lawrence’s *“Migration Series”*? Sixty panels of raw, syncopated truth—train whistles, packed suitcases, hope thicker than red clay—all chronicling the Great Migration like it’s sacred scripture. That’s narrative mastery, y’all. Mona whispers. Lawrence *testifies*. So is she still “#1”? In the tourism industrial complex—sure. In heart, history, and sheer *resonance*? Hand me a famous African American painting any Tuesday—I’ll take truth over trend, every time.

Ever heard of Edmonia Lewis? Augusta Savage? These weren’t just artists—they were *architects of possibility*. Savage—Harlem’s iron-lunged sculptress—carved *“The Harp”* from pure defiance (inspired by James Weldon Johnson’s *“Lift Every Voice and Sing”*), only to watch it vanish after the 1939 World’s Fair like smoke in a breeze. But her legacy? Didn’t vanish. Her students—Gwendolyn Knight, Jacob Lawrence—*became the canon*. That’s the thing about famous African American paintings: they’re never solo acts. They bloom from mentorship, from basement studios lit by bare bulbs, from aunties saying *“Keep goin’, baby—I believe”* when the world said *“Nah.”* These artists weren’t just creatives—they were *ancestors with turpentine-stained hands and fire in their chests*.

Thanks to *“Black Panther”* vibin’ like a visual symphony, *“Atlanta”* drippin’ surreal symbolism, and even TikTok deep-dives with jazz in the background—famous African American paintings are finally gettin’ their flowers *outside* the velvet ropes. Remember that *“Luke Cage”* scene? Basquiat’s crown motif blazin’ behind him like a halo? That wasn’t set dressing—it was *homage with capital H*. Virgil Abloh? Dropped Basquiat collabs like they were Sunday flyers at the barbershop—*and the line wrapped ‘round the block*. But let’s not front: it’s deeper than drip or decor. Every time a famous African American painting flashes on screen? It’s a quiet revolution: *“We were here. We built this. And we ain’t rentin’ space—we ownin’ the whole damn block.”*

Wanna stand toe-to-toe with greatness? Slide into the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C.—their Visual Art wing? Straight-up *sanctuary*. Or hit the Studio Museum in Harlem, where the energy’s still thick with Langston’s ghost and Zora’s laughter. Can’t make the trip? No stress—Google Arts & Culture got HD zoom-ins so crisp, you can *count the brushstrokes* from your couch in Des Moines, Detroit, or downtown Dallas. And if you’re diggin’ deep on art, culture, and visual storytelling—our hub’s got you: check out Paintings for breakdowns that don’t talk *at* you—just *with* you, like two friends sittin’ on the stoop at golden hour. ‘Cause appreciating famous African American paintings ain’t about fancy degrees—it’s about showing up with open eyes and an open heart.

Back in the day? Galleries wouldn’t touch Black art unless it came with a notarized apology. Fast-forward to now? Auction houses slingin’ famous African American paintings like they’re front-row Knicks tickets—*and the bidding’s got more drama than a Real Housewives reunion*. In 2021 alone, sales of works by Black artists jumped over 300%—partly fueled by 2020’s long-overdue reckoning, partly ‘cause folks finally *saw the light*. But real talk? It’s bittersweet. Barkley L. Hendricks painted Black cool like it was oxygen—and never saw a penny from today’s hype. Yet this boom? *Matters*. It proves what Grandma knew sittin’ on the porch: famous African American paintings ain’t just *gorgeous*—they’re historical currency. And yeah—now they’re *literally* worth their weight in platinum.

Sure—some, like David Hammons’ *“African-American Flag”* (1990), hit like a protest chant in oil paint. But others? Pure, uncut *joy*. Romare Bearden’s collages? All jazz hands, church hats, and Sunday chicken—*life in technicolor*. Loïs Mailou Jones? Painted Parisian bistros *and* Caribbean shores with the same delicate fire—no permission asked, no boxes checked. Reducing famous African American paintings to pain? Nah, fam. That erases the *whole damn spectrum*: tenderness, triumph, twerk lines at family reunions. As Bearden dropped it once: *“Art celebrates life—and that’s enough.”* And honestly? In a world that keeps tryna shrink us—celebration *is* resistance. And *that’s* everything.

You don’t need generational wealth to hold a piece of this legacy. Amy Sherald—yeah, *that* Michelle Obama portrait queen—drops signed limited prints under $5K (and sometimes way less). Etsy’s got indie Black artists servin’ originals for under $200—some so fresh, the varnish’s still wet. And never sleep on your city’s First Friday art walk—tonight’s unknown might be next decade’s famous African American painting. Pro tip? Slide into galleries like Marlborough or Hauser & Wirth on the ‘Gram—they post studio visits, artist convos, even time-lapse paint sessions. Your $150 splurge today? Might be worth five figures tomorrow. But more than that? You’re not just buying art—you’re *investing in living history*. Now *that’s* ROI with rhythm, soul, and a side of sweet tea.

For more deep dives on art, culture, and visual storytelling, swing by Brandon Kralik. And if you loved this, don’t miss our feature on Museum of Modern Art’s ‘Starry Night’ Hidden Secrets.

References

• https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/227545
• https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/art-african-american-experience
• https://www.christies.com/features/Jean-Michel-Basquiat-Untitled-1982-9341-1.aspx
• https://www.moma.org/artists/3032
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Ossawa-Tanner