dieser beitrag wurde verfasst in: englisch (eng/en)
name: White
vorname: Charles (Wilbert)
gnd-repräsentation: 121864308
biografische angaben: 1918 – 1979. American painter and muralist
Born in Chicago in 1918, Charles W. White is one of America's most renowned and recognized African-American & Social Realist artists. Charles White worked primarily in black & white or sepia & white drawings, paintings, and lithographs. His artwork encompassed an incredibly skilled draftsmanship and artistic sensitivity and power that has reached and moved millions.
His meticulously executed drawings and paintings speak of and affirm the humanity and beauty of African American people and culture. Common subjects of his artwork included scenes depicting African-American history in the United States, socio-economic struggles, human relationships, and portraits.
In 1941, he married artist Elizabeth Catlett and moved with her to New Orleans, where she was teaching at Dillard University. He was drawn to Southern black life and culture, especially music, which informed his artistic work for the remainder of his life.
«In 1946, White made a year-long visit to Mexico [together with Elizabeth Catlett], staying part of the time with David Siqueiros, and studying with the artists of the Taller de Grafica Popular [like Diego Rivera, Pablo O’Higgins, Leopoldo Méndez], whose work he admired enormously. […] [White and Catlett would divorce in 1948: she stayed in Mexico for good, while he moved to New York City.] On his return to the United States, he settled in the Sugar Hill area of Harlem where numerous artists and intellectuals lived, his circle of friends including Shirley Graham, Lorraine Hansberry, Langston Hughes, Jacob Lawrence and Paul Robeson.» (Hemingway, 2002)
Artist Charles White and his second wife Frances Barrett moved to California in 1956, which was the beginning of White's career as a Los Angeles artist. He had several shows in Los Angeles, and was represented by the Heritage Gallery. White received numerous honors and awards and has been exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, Whitney Museum, Metropolitan Museum, Smithsonian Institution, National Academy of Design, and elsewhere throughout the world. He was elected to the National Academy of Design in 1972.