About Jacob Lawrence
(b. 1917, Atlantic City, NJ – d. 2000, Seattle, WA)



Jacob Lawrence spent his childhood in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance, attending classes at the Harlem Community Art Center and the American Artists School, and later working for the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project. Lawrence’s paintings were first exhibited at major museums when he was still in his twenties.

His artwork appeared at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Art Institute of Chicago; and Museum of Modern Art, New York, where he became the first African American artist to have work included in the collection. He lived, painted, and taught in New York City until 1971, when he moved to Seattle to join the faculty of the University of Washington. Lawrence taught painting there for more than 15 years. He died in Seattle in 2000, at age 83.

Lawrence was a community storyteller who used the visual arts to tell about important events in history. Early in his career, he developed his signature style, using bold colors and simple, striking shapes.

Jacob Lawrence in his studio, Seattle,
Washington • 1993 • Photo © Spike Mafford

Lawrence made prints for the first time in the 1960s. His narrative, serial prints were often allegorical and were sometimes created as a form of social commentary.

By 1977, when The Legend of John Brown was printed, many American artists were re-examining historic events. The original paintings, on which these prints are based, were in fragile condition and held in storage at a museum, where they could not be widely shared. In producing this important series in print form, Lawrence was able to share his artwork and ideas about American history more widely.

For additional Information about Jacob Lawrence visit: The Jacob and Gwen Lawrence Foundation.