@artaboverealityprojects: #FallenThroughTheCracks - James Lesesne Wells was born on November 2, 1902, in Atlanta, GA. He was an influential African American graphic artist, printmaker, and painter associated with the Harlem Renaissance and a pioneer in modern art education. He served as a distinguished art professor at Howard University from 1929 to 1968. Born to a Baptist minister and a schoolteacher, his artistic journey began in his mother’s kindergarten art class. He attended Lincoln University and then earned a bachelor’s degree in art education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He further honed his skills at the National Academy of Design. Initially a graphic artist, he specialized in block printing, lithography, and etching, creating illustrations for books and journals. Hired by Howard University in 1929, he introduced innovative printmaking techniques and mentored future renowned artists like Elizabeth Catlett and Stephanie Pogue. Wells’s career evolved as he gained recognition as a painter, exhibiting works inspired by German Expressionism, abstract cubism, and African sculpture. During the Great Depression, he directed a summer arts program in Harlem, working with artists such as Charles Alston and Jacob Lawrence. He later focused on affordable, reproducible art reflecting the African American experience. Post-World War II, he studied at Atelier 17 and continued teaching and creating art. Involved in the civil rights movement, he led art workshops and protested segregation. Retiring in 1968, he continued producing vibrant art into his eighties. His contributions were honored with a solo exhibit at Fisk University, a Presidential Citation from President Carter, and the Living Legend Award at the National Black Arts Festival. James Lesesne Wells died in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 1993, at the age of 90. (Text paraphrased from Wikipedia and other sources. All Images are the property of the copyright owners. This clip is for educational purposes.) #artabovereality #blackartist #JamesLesesneWells #Printmaking #Painter #Atlanta #contemporaryart #contemporaryprintmaking

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Thursday 30 May 2024 19:02:44 GMT