“I made this…”: The Work of Black American Artists and Artisans
On view in the Miodrag and Elizabeth Ridgely Blagojevich Gallery
This exhibition is made possible through a generous grant from The Americana Foundation
“I Made This…” celebrates the lives of eighteenth through twentieth-century Black American artisans and artists through the material culture they created. The title comes from a quote by 19th-century enslaved potter David Drake who inscribed these words on one of his pots despite laws prohibiting literacy for enslaved people. Drake is just one of the many artists represented in this exhibition. Objects from both Decorative Arts and Folk Art collections will be displayed in the same gallery, contrasting the aesthetics and designs of men and women from different times, places, and backgrounds. These pieces represent the inspirations, resilience, and legacies of these talented makers.
Explore Pieces from the Exhibition
Jug, by David Drake, America, South Carolina, Edgefield, 1842, alkaline-glazed stoneware, 19 ¾ x 13 ⅞in, 2021.900.24
Baptism, by Clementine Hunter, America, Louisiana, Natchitoches, 1950-1956, possibly oil paint on laminated cardboard, Framed 15 ¼ x 21 ¼in, 1992.101.2
Side Chair, attributed to Thomas Day, Milton, North Carolina, 1845-1855, mahogany, yellow pine, tulip poplar, linen, and curled horsehair, 31 1/4 × 18 1/8 × 20 1/4 × 16in. Gift of Ronald L. and Mary Jean Hurst in Honor of Leroy Graves, 2022-71
Marian Anderson Carving, by Elijah Pierce, Columbus, Ohio, 1975-1976, painted wood, cardboard, glitter, felt tip pen, 14 3/4 x 9 3/4in. Museum Purchase, 1995.701.1
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