Carmin Karasic

 

Jeanette Madden

 

Raymond L. Haywood

 

Hilda Robinson

Contemporary African-American art has been energizing since the 1970's, and recently has taken off, in the waning years of the 20th century.  Long ignored, African American art and artists have been marginalized since the 1700's in America.  Until the 1970's, even the few established modern artists, such as Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden, received scant attention at our major museums. 

But all that is changing. 

Today not only is African-American art being recognized for its intrinsic values, but also in a cultural context that is an integral part of  mainstream American society.  This is amply evident in music and sports, where African-American contributions are well established.  As our society continues to assimilate and broaden it's cultural and artistic perceptions, contemporary art will similarly benefit from the African-American perspective.

We are at a cultural and artistic vortex.

The artists featured here are just a few of the deeply inspired and powerful African-American artists expressing a new America.  Such a flowering of talent and motivation will surly become a part of our collective art history.