Telling a People's Story: African-American Children's Illustrated Literature Exhibit

Telling A People’s Story is the first major museum exhibition devoted to the art found within the pages of African-American children’s picture books. The exhibition emphasizes the strength of the illustrations as visual narrative representations of the African-American experience. This project celebrates the complex and diverse African-American experience through a lens intended for children and young readers. 

Themes and time periods include African Origins, Middle Passage, Slavery, Emancipation, Reconstruction, Harlem Renaissance, Segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement. The selection of approximately 130 works on display includes paintings, pastels, drawings and mixed media works. Featured are more than 30 artists, spanning nearly 50 years of creativity. Find the full list here.