Though he was certain art could help in the fight for equality, Lewis sought out representation alongside white artists as an avenue toward it. As an African-American artist (especially one active from 1930 until his death in 1979) it was expected that his art would document the plight and putrid treatment of black Americans-and that it make a direct statement in opposition.Ĭompared to contemporaries like Charles Alston, Romare Bearden and Hale Woodruff (with whom he co-founded the influential artist collective the Spiral, dedicated to the advancement of how black artists could address racial inequality through their work in the 1960s), Lewis’ art steered clear of overt statements and specific political messages, and his activism lived behind the scenes. Unlike many of his peers, he chose to separate the two-even though they influenced one another. Born in Harlem, in 1909, Norman Lewis led a life laden with art and activism.
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