Jacob Lawrence was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 7, 1917. In 1924, when his parents separated, his mother took him and his two younger siblings to foster care in Philadelphia. When he was 13 years old, he went to Harlem where his mom was. He was shortly introduced to art after his arrival and his mom enrolled him in Utopia Children's Center, which had an after school art program. Lawrence dropped out of school at the age of 16 but took classes at the Harlem Art Workshop. Jacob won a scholarship to the American Artists School in New York in 1937. After he graduated, he began creating narrative series, painting 30 or more paintings on one subject.
At the outburst of World War 2, he was drafted into the US Coast Guard. He was assigned to be the Coast Guard artist, documenting the experience of war around the world. During this time, he produced 48 paintings which have been lost. At the end of his duty he painted his War Series. In 1949, he was depressed and checked himself into Hillside Hospital in Queens. He stayed there for 11 months and painted. His work was different from his other work, his paintings in the hospital had subdued colors and people who appeared resigned or in pain. Once leaving Hillside, Jacob painted works based on memories of performances at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. He accepted a position as a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. While teaching he spent time making limited-edition prints to help fund nonprofits like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He died on June 9, 2000 painting until a few weeks of his death.
At the outburst of World War 2, he was drafted into the US Coast Guard. He was assigned to be the Coast Guard artist, documenting the experience of war around the world. During this time, he produced 48 paintings which have been lost. At the end of his duty he painted his War Series. In 1949, he was depressed and checked himself into Hillside Hospital in Queens. He stayed there for 11 months and painted. His work was different from his other work, his paintings in the hospital had subdued colors and people who appeared resigned or in pain. Once leaving Hillside, Jacob painted works based on memories of performances at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. He accepted a position as a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. While teaching he spent time making limited-edition prints to help fund nonprofits like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He died on June 9, 2000 painting until a few weeks of his death.
Below are just a few of Jacob Lawrence's outstanding artworks.