Aaron Douglas

Description

Aaron Douglas was an American painter, graphic artist and a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance. He created hundreds of paintings, murals, illustrations and other works of art that helped define the visual language of the Harlem Renaissance. He was born in Topeka, Kansas in 1899 and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he studied art and design. After graduating, he moved to New York and began to create works of art that were heavily influenced by the African American culture of the Harlem Renaissance.

Douglas’ work often featured abstract forms, with strong geometric shapes to represent the African American experience. He was particularly interested in the African American struggle for freedom, and he often used his art to express this theme. He was a major advocate for African American civil rights and his art helped to shape the Harlem Renaissance movement.

Douglas’ works have been widely exhibited, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Museum of Modern Art. He was also a professor at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee and was instrumental in the development of the school’s art department. His work continues to be an important and influential part of African American culture today.