The Chemistry of
COLOR
Contemporary African-American Artists
February 5 – May 9, 2010
In 1988, renowned artist Jacob Lawrence visited the Pennsylvania
Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) to give the school’s commencement
address. During that trip, he wandered through the extensive
American Art collection there, making a comment to
then-board director Harold A. Sorgenti that would
eventually change the complexion at the museum.
Lawrence pointed out the lack of AfricanAmerican artists included in the collection.
Not surprising since at that time museums
still suffered from a blind spot when it
came to African-American artists (as
well as female artists), and black a ?????)????????????????????????)???????????????????M??????????)?????????????I