Thursday, February 27: PAFA: Preserving African American Fine Art
6:00pm
Hosmer Auditorium
Free with Museum admission
A Lecture on Black Artists in Making American Artists: Stories from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 1776-1976
Join us for an engaging lecture exploring the contributions of African American artists featured in the traveling exhibition Making American Artists: Stories from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 1776-1976. This discussion will delve into the lives, works, and legacies of pioneering Black artists who navigated systemic barriers to shape American art history.
From Henry Ossawa Tanner’s groundbreaking achievements to Laura Wheeler Waring’s striking portraits, this lecture will highlight the impact of African American artists within PAFA’s history and beyond. We will examine their artistic innovations, the social and political landscapes that influenced their work, and how their contributions continue to inspire contemporary artists.
Through this conversation, we will reflect on the role of museums, institutions, and audiences in preserving and amplifying African American fine art, ensuring that these vital narratives remain integral to the broader story of American art.
Edward L. Loper, Sr., Sunday Afternoon, 1948, Oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in., Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy
of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia and Edward Loper, Sr. Gift of Dr. George J. Roth, 1970.34. Photograph by Barbara Katus.
Horace Pippin, John Brown Going to His Hanging, 1942, Oil on canvas, 24 1/8 x 30 1/4 in., Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia. John Lambert Fund, 1943.11. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.
Dr. Tanisha M. Jackson
Executive Director, Community Folk Art Center, and Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Dr. Tanisha M. Jackson is an assistant professor in African American Studies and executive director of the Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) at Syracuse University. She integrates Africana Studies, cultural programming, and community engagement to uplift artists of African descent and foster transformative experiences through exhibitions, residencies, and community-based initiatives.
Her research explores art, identity, and wellness, with a focus on Black women artists. She has published widely, including the forthcoming Black Women Art Ecosystems: Sites of Wellness and Self-Care (University of Illinois Press, Fall 2025). Holding degrees from The Ohio State University and an Executive MBA from The University of Toledo, Dr. Jackson is a passionate advocate for the power of art in social and cultural change.
