This ever-expanding reference list provides background on a diverse spectrum of illustrators across time, cultures, and artistic styles.
Thomas Blackshear
Illustrator of iconic portraits of African American heroes, angels, and movie stars.
Ernest Crichlow
Known for his Depression-era artworks that addressed injustice and the African American experience.
Jean Cunningham
Fashion illustrator under designer Nettie Rosenstein in the 1950s, and as a freelance artist through the 1980s.
Bob Eggleton
One of the most-awarded fantasy and science fiction artists in contemporary illustration.
Malvin Gray Johnson
Painter who reimagined the African-American spiritual, and depicted Harlem street scenes.
Norman Lewis
As one of the few African American Abstract Expressionists, Lewis’ work headlined the Harlem art scene.
J.C. Leyendecker
J.C. Leyendecker rose to fame as the creator of elegant artworks for mass publication.
Neysa McMein
Created many cover illustrations and pastel drawings of strong and spirited American women.
Archibald Motley, Jr.
A Harlem Renaissance artist who addressed African American life and his own multiracial background.
Coles Phillips
Successful illustrator who portrayed romantic femininity using a distinctive technique called “fade-away.”
Alessandra Pisano
The winner of the Spectrum Rising Star award, Pisano paints images with elements of mythology and magic.
