Art Talk--The People’s Painter: Jacob Lawrence and the Black American Experience

Library : Maynard Public Library

Location : Online

Start : Thursday 5th of February 2026 7:00 PM

End : Thursday 5th of February 2026 8:15 PM

Description :

Virtual. Click HERE to register and receive the Zoom link. [link coming soon] Art historian Jane Oneail will present The People’s Painter: Jacob Lawrence and the Black American Experience in celebration of Black History Month. Jacob Lawrence's bold, angular compositions and vibrant tempera colors transformed American art by giving visual form to the African American experience with unprecedented power and dignity, from his groundbreaking Migration Series to his dynamic depictions of Harlem life. His distinctive style—marked by flattened figures, rhythmic patterns, and jewel-like hues—created a uniquely American visual language that captured both the struggle and resilience of Black communities during the Great Migration and beyond. By examining his masterful storytelling technique and his role in the Harlem Renaissance, this program reveals how Lawrence became not just a chronicler of American history, but a revolutionary force who expanded the very definition of what American art could be and whose stories it could tell. Jacob Lawrence. This presentation will be recorded and posted to the library's YouTube channel. Self-Portrait, 1977. National Academy of Design. maynardpubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/art-talk-the-people-s-painter-jacob-lawrence-and-the-black-american-experience/