Black History Month 2018

Today marks the end of October, and of the international Black History Month, an initiative that started to remember important personalities of the African-American community around the world.

The movement was founded in the 1970s at Kent State University by a group of students: their initiative was celebrated not only by other students across the world, but also by the art community: the artist Ernie Pryor, in fact, celebrated it with a colourfuld and bold murales at the Kent State University (see below) that became one of the symbols of the movement.

ERNIE PRYOR, Untitled, 1970s. Credits: Wikipedia

The movement enabled a rise in confidence and consciousness within the African American community, which affected positively also the art scene. For example, in the United States, it lead to the establishment of the National Museaum of African American History and Culture in WashingtonD.C., which not only explores the main themes and events of history of African American communities across the States, but also hosts the works of some of the most influential artists who worked with different mediums.

KEHINDE WILEY, Barack Obama, 2018. Curtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.

Although since the 20th century, and in part also thanks to the Black History Month movement, many African American people get public recognition for their achievements and value, probably the highest point was reached with the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States of America in 2008.

Among the many positive, and in some respect, revolutionary actions that the Obama's took during their two mandates, the last one is strictly related to art. In fact, in February 2018 the couple presented to the world their two portraits, becoming the first presidential couple to commission their portraits to two African American artists: Kehinde Wiley, who portrayed Barack Obama (on the side) and Amy Sherald, who portrayed his wife, Michelle Obama (see below).

AMY SHERALD, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, 2018. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.

The presentation of the portraits to the public was a huge success and a big surprise for many. To these days the fame of the portraits, and of their artists, continues at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C.

Both the portraits are now visible at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. until the 4th December 2018.

Credits Cover Picture: Ernie Pryor