This exhibition presents African American Art from the mid 1800s to the present. The exhibition activates a narrative between art created in the 19th Century with art created by modern and contemporary artists. A receptions is scheduled for Friday February 1, 2019 from 5 – 7 p.m.

During the 2019 Winter/Spring semester Dr. Lynne Larsen will teach an art history seminar course on African American Art. Brad Cushman, Gallery Director at UA Little Rock curated this exhibition. On Their Own Terms will be displayed in two galleries, the Brad Cushman Gallery (WCAD Level 2) and the Small Gallery (WCAD Level 1).

The exhibit activates a narrative between art created in the 19th Century by notable artists Robert Scott Duncanson, Edward Mitchell Bannister, Charles Ethan Porter and Henry Ossawa Tanner with art created by modern and contemporary artists.  The 19th Century painters are part of the Juan Rodriguez Collection (NY, NY) and Hearne Fine Art (Little Rock) is facilitating this loan.

The exhibition examines how artists influence each other directly and indirectly. Artist Carrie Mae Weems states:

“You know, artists are influenced by other artists. We’re all deeply influenced by what’s around us; we don’t make anything cold. Sometimes we think that we do. But within that, the most important part is that even though we’re influenced, what are the levels of invention that we carry forth even as we’ve been influenced by something that’s come before?”

“Carrie Mae Weems And A Shifting Stage” Interview with Tess Mayer, Published in Interview Magazine, November 4, 2016

Modern and contemporary works are on loan from Darrell and Lisa Walker, Dr. Imani Perry, Pierrette Van Cleve, other private collections, individual artists, the Arkansas Arts Center and the UA Little Rock Permanent Collection.

Artists include:

Delita Martiin, Deborah Roberts, Elizabeth Catlett, Romare Bearden, James Phillips, Herbert Gentry, Kerry James Marshall, Caitlin Cherry, Joyce Scott, Aminah Robinson, Vicki Meek, Kara Walker, Lorna Simpson, Bisa Butler, Zoe Charlton, David Clemons, Whitfield Lovell, Ron Adams, Sam Gilliam, Robert Duncanson, David Driskell, Charles Porter, Henry Tanner, Amy Sherald, Robert Pruitt, Bessie Harvey, Mikalene Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, Aj Smith, Benny Andrews, Phoebe Beasley, Justin Bryant, Alfred Conteh, Edward Mitchell Bannister, Marjorie Williams-Smith

Featured image

Delita Martin, The Dinner Table (Plate Installation), 2016, Dim. Variable