Charles White, a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, imbued his depictions of the Black community with powerful dignity.
Charles White (1918 - 1979) was born in Chicago and studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During his expansive career, he inspired an entire generation, including David Hammons and Kerry James Marshall. While revered for his social realist portraiture, White's work spanned drawing, printmaking, and painting. Later in life, he taught at Los Angeles' Otis Art Institute. As a mentor to many, "I have no use for artists who try to divorse themselves from the struggle," was a cornerstone of his celebrated creative practice.