Art History Timeline / Harlem Renaissance Art
Harlem Renaissance Art for Kids: Art History, Artists and an Easy Art Activity
Harlem is a neighbourhood in New York City. In the 1920s and 1930s, Black artists, writers and musicians there made art about their lives, history and culture. Jazz music and art grew side by side.
For teachers
The Harlem Renaissance was a flowering of African American art, literature and music after the Great Migration brought many Black Americans north. Visual artists drew on African art, modernism and everyday life to celebrate Black identity. Teachers like Augusta Savage trained the next generation, including Jacob Lawrence.
What to look for
Pull up an artwork from this time and go on a looking hunt. Here is what to spot.
- Silhouettes and layered shapes
- Music, dance and city life
- Stories of history and community
- Flat, bold colour
Meet the artists
Augusta Savage
1892 to 1962
She was a sculptor and teacher who ran an art school in Harlem.
Aaron Douglas
1899 to 1979
He painted murals with layered silhouettes and circles of light.
Lois Mailou Jones
1905 to 1998
She painted for over 70 years and taught art at Howard University.
Jacob Lawrence
1917 to 2000
He painted the 60-panel Migration Series when he was in his early twenties.
Try it
An easy art activity you can do with paper and whatever drawing tools you have.
Make a three-panel story like Jacob Lawrence. Fold your paper into three and draw three moments from one day in your neighbourhood. Use flat, bold colours and add a one-line caption under each panel.
Ms Artastic lessons
There is no Ms Artastic lesson for this part of the timeline yet. In the meantime, the Free Art Lesson Library has lessons you can teach this week.
Open the Free Art Lesson LibraryBooks for your art shelf
- Jake Makes a World: Jacob Lawrence, A Young Artist in Harlem by Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts
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Questions teachers and parents ask
What is Harlem Renaissance art?
Harlem is a neighbourhood in New York City. In the 1920s and 1930s, Black artists, writers and musicians there made art about their lives, history and culture. Jazz music and art grew side by side.
What time period is Harlem Renaissance art from?
Time period: About 1918 to late 1930s. Where: Harlem, New York City, United States.
Who are some famous artists of Harlem Renaissance art?
Augusta Savage (1892 to 1962), Aaron Douglas (1899 to 1979), Lois Mailou Jones (1905 to 1998) and Jacob Lawrence (1917 to 2000).
What is an easy art project for kids about Harlem Renaissance art?
Make a three-panel story like Jacob Lawrence. Fold your paper into three and draw three moments from one day in your neighbourhood. Use flat, bold colours and add a one-line caption under each panel.
The Artastic Collective art curriculum
Full art lessons, videos and units for the whole year, ready when you are. Monthly, yearly and VIP plans.
More famous-artist video lessons
Press play and paint along with me. Each video lesson comes with a printable lesson plan and a QR code, so it is ready for the classroom or the kitchen table.
