Joel Elgin. Athraigh Print Studio: 2020-08-23

The Influence of Black Artists:

Dr. Samella Lewis.

Joel Elgin, Athraigh Studio.

SAMELLA LEWIS, born in New Orleans in 1924 is rightfully considered one of the most influential artists/art historians in the United States.

“… As a young artist, she was drawn to subjects as diverse as police brutality against African Americans, comic books, and characters from her older sister's romance novels…”

https://hammer.ucla.edu/now-dig-this/artists/samella-lewis

She “…became the first African American to receive doctorates in Fine Art and Art History. Dr. Lewis attended Dillard University, Hampton Institute, and Ohio State University. She taught as a full-time professor at Morgan State University, Florida A&M, State University New York Plattsburgh, California State Dominguez, California State Long Beach, and Scripps College…”

https://www.blackartinamerica.com/index.php/2019/03/11/dr-samella-lewis-the-godmother-of-african-american-art/

Dr. Lewis “…was an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, making her a target of government officials who accused her of being a Communist and members of the Ku Klux Klan who shot out windows of her home. Undaunted, she founded a chapter of the NAACP in Plattsburgh.

https://www.louissternfinearts.com/samella-lewis-bio

‘Lewis has changed the landscape of Art History and has become an influential and highly respected voice that has also mentored and bolstered the careers of many African American artists. She is the recipient of a myriad of awards and distinctions and has exhibited in many important galleries and museums.”

http://www.stellajonesgallery.com/samella-lewis

I See You

Linocut. 2005

Migrants,

Linocut. 1968

“I fight against segregation, discrimination, racism, brutality and depravity because these things deny people their rights as human beings.” -- Samella Lewis. (Credit: Daily Bulletin)

House of Shango

Lithograph. 1992

“The title of this piece is an unmistakable harkening to African roots. Shango is a religious practice with origins in Yoruba (Nigerian) belief, deifying a god of thunder by the same name…”

https://rcwg.scrippscollege.edu/blog/2016/10/02/highlights-of-the-collection-samella-lewis-house-of-shango/