The Most Important Storyteller you May Not Know: Jacob Lawrence

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Black, child-like figures jumping, cartwheeling and playing on a brown foreground with light blue background in a

Step into a vibrant world of artistry, where stories of everyday life, triumph and tribulation dance across canvases in bold colors and compelling narratives. Some artists distinguish themselves with grand images, but Jacob Lawrence shows the brilliance and grandeur of a human story. Read why this innovative African American artist may be the most important American history storyteller you may not (yet) know.

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Rich Cultural Beginnings

Jacob Lawrence was born on September 7, 1917, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Raised in Harlem, New York, during the height of the Harlem Renaissance, Lawrence was exposed to the rich cultural tapestry of African American life in the urban north. Inspired by the vibrant energy of his surroundings, as well as the social and political activism of the time, Lawrence developed a keen interest in art from an early age.

Dark skinned people wearing colorful clothing walk slightly off center toward the front with a child visible
Walking – Charles Alton (Smithsonian Museum)
A photo of a sculpture with a black human figure kneeling in front of a series of figures in black robes with heads looking forward and upward forming the shape of a harp.
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing: The Harp – Augusta Savage (1939 New York World’s Fair)

At the age of thirteen, Lawrence began attending art classes at the Harlem Art Workshop, where he honed his skills under prominent African American artists such as Charles Alston and Augusta Savage. He was also deeply influenced by the works of Mexican muralists Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros, whose bold colors and dynamic compositions would leave a lasting impression on his own artistic style.

Vibrant red, yellow and green figures of furniture and rugs against a black background with a black human figure walking in the middle.
The Apartment – Jacob Lawrence, 1943
A black man with large hands is hunched over a tool at a table. There is a yellow and purple background wall and red and black shoe forms hanging on the wall. Represents a classic Jacob Lawrence style
The Shoemaker – Jacob Lawrence, 1945

The Migration Series

In 1941, at the age of twenty-three, Lawrence gained national recognition for his groundbreaking series of paintings titled “The Migration of the Negro.” Comprising sixty panels, the series chronicles the mass migration of African Americans from the rural south to the urban north during the early twentieth century. Through vivid colors and stark, geometric forms, Lawrence vividly depicts the struggles and triumphs of this transformative period in American history.

A large group of black people dressed in green, red and yellow line up in three lines through wooden entrances entitled Chicago, New York and St. Louis
Panel 1: During World War 1 there was a great migration north by southern African Americans
A group of black figures in green, red and yellow carry bags against a brown and blue background with birds flying above them in the distance
Panel 3: From every southern town migrants left by the hundreds to travel north
A black family dressed in brown, red and black clothes looks out the window of a train onto four smokestacks and large buildings.
Panel 45: The migrants arrived in Pittsburgh, one of the great industrial centers of the North.
Three African American girls in colorful dresses stand in front of a large grey chalkboard and write the numbers, 2, 3, 4
Panel 58: In the north the African American had more educational opportunities.

“The Migration Series” is celebrated not only for its artistic brilliance but also for its historical significance. By depicting the migration experience in visual form, Lawrence gave voice to the countless individuals who participated in this great exodus, shedding light on their hopes, dreams, and aspirations for a better life. Check out this coffee table book to view all 60 panels. 

EVeryday life and Legacy

Throughout his prolific career, Jacob Lawrence continued to explore themes of social justice, human dignity, and the African American experience. His paintings often depicted everyday life in Harlem, as well as historical events such as the abolitionist movement, the Civil Rights struggle, and the lives of prominent figures like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. Lawrence referred to his style as “dynamic cubism,” an art form popularized in Europe which drew great inspiration from West African and Meso-American art. 

Cubes and human figures in green, red, yellow and black.
Games – Sleight of Hand – Jacob Lawrence, 1999
Man on a Scaffold – Jacob Lawrence. 1985

In addition to his paintings, Lawrence was also a dedicated teacher and mentor, inspiring generations of young artists through his work at institutions such as the Harlem Community Art Center and the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. The Migration Series was purchased jointly by the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Lawrence’s works are in the permanent collections of numerous museums. His 1947 painting The Builders hangs in the White House. He is the recipient of the National Medal of Arts and the first visual artist to receive the Springarn Medal, the NAACP’s highest honor.

Today, Jacob Lawrence’s legacy lives on as a beacon of creativity, courage, and compassion. His paintings are celebrated for their bold colors, dynamic compositions, and timeless relevance to the struggles and triumphs of the human spirit. Looking at his life and work, we are reminded of the power of art to inspire change, provoke thought, and unite us in our common humanity. Check out these books about Jacob Lawrence and spread the word about his genius.

What are the feelings you experience when you look at Jacob Lawrence’s images? Start a discussion below!

1 thought on “The Most Important Storyteller you May Not Know: Jacob Lawrence”

  1. Christine Braunberger

    It’s delightful to find you describing Jacob Lawrence here, as pieces from “The Migration Series” long accompanied my American Literature lectures covering the Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights voices. Their historical significance is re-framed for me now as I imagine a Lawrence print on one of my walls. The story-telling element to these pieces can resonate for so many of us whose lives have stories of movement, whether our own or our family’s.

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