David Driskell
1931
–2020
BirthplaceEatonton, Georgia, United States of America
Death placeHyattsville, Maryland, United States of America
BiographyDavid Driskell was a distinguished American artist, scholar, professor, collector, and curator whose multifaceted career exerted a significant impact on the world of American art.
Born in Eatonton, Georgia, Driskell grew up in the segregated South, moving with his family to western North Carolina as a young boy. His father was a Baptist minister who encouraged his son to learn about Christianity and Western philosophy. Driskell’s artistic journey began at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1955. His early exposure to the works of influential African American artists and intellectuals at Howard, including James A. Porter (1905–1970), Lois Mailou Jones (1905–1998), and James L. Wells (1902–1993), played a pivotal role in shaping his artistic vision. Driskell attended Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine in the summer of 1953, and he maintained a lifelong connection to the state. After completing his undergraduate studies, Driskell continued his education at Catholic University, where he earned a master’s degree in 1962.
Driskell exhibited his work in solo and group exhibitions as early as 1956. As an artist, he gained recognition for his distinctive style, which blended elements of abstraction with influences from African and African American artistic traditions. He produced paintings, drawings, collages, and prints, always working with vibrant colors and intricate compositions. During travels to Europe, Africa, and South America, Driskell continued to find new inspiration for his evolving style. Subjects he returned to throughout his career included chairs, trees, and angels.
In addition to his contributions as an artist, Driskell was an important art historian and curator. His groundbreaking research and scholarship focused on African American art. In 1975, Driskell curated Amistad II: Afro-American Art, which opened at Fisk University and traveled to other venues. A year later, he organized the landmark exhibition Two Centuries of Black American Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The exhibition, which traveled to Atlanta, Dallas, and Brooklyn, marked a turning point in the recognition and appreciation of African American art. Throughout his career, Driskell advocated for the recognition and inclusion of Black artists in major art institutions. He continued to curate important exhibitions and to write essays.
Driskell was an influential teacher for over four decades, holding teaching positions at Talladega College, Howard University, Fisk University (institutions associated with the American Missionary Association), and the University of Maryland. He served as a visiting professor of art at Bowdoin College, the University of Michigan, Queens College, and Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. His influence extended beyond the classroom, as he mentored and inspired countless students who went on to make significant contributions to the arts.
His achievements and contributions to the field of American art brought him significant recognition. In 2000, he received the National Humanities Medal; in 2001, the University of Maryland established the David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora; in 2007, he was elected as a National Academician by the National Academy of Design; and in 2018, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Born in Eatonton, Georgia, Driskell grew up in the segregated South, moving with his family to western North Carolina as a young boy. His father was a Baptist minister who encouraged his son to learn about Christianity and Western philosophy. Driskell’s artistic journey began at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1955. His early exposure to the works of influential African American artists and intellectuals at Howard, including James A. Porter (1905–1970), Lois Mailou Jones (1905–1998), and James L. Wells (1902–1993), played a pivotal role in shaping his artistic vision. Driskell attended Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine in the summer of 1953, and he maintained a lifelong connection to the state. After completing his undergraduate studies, Driskell continued his education at Catholic University, where he earned a master’s degree in 1962.
Driskell exhibited his work in solo and group exhibitions as early as 1956. As an artist, he gained recognition for his distinctive style, which blended elements of abstraction with influences from African and African American artistic traditions. He produced paintings, drawings, collages, and prints, always working with vibrant colors and intricate compositions. During travels to Europe, Africa, and South America, Driskell continued to find new inspiration for his evolving style. Subjects he returned to throughout his career included chairs, trees, and angels.
In addition to his contributions as an artist, Driskell was an important art historian and curator. His groundbreaking research and scholarship focused on African American art. In 1975, Driskell curated Amistad II: Afro-American Art, which opened at Fisk University and traveled to other venues. A year later, he organized the landmark exhibition Two Centuries of Black American Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The exhibition, which traveled to Atlanta, Dallas, and Brooklyn, marked a turning point in the recognition and appreciation of African American art. Throughout his career, Driskell advocated for the recognition and inclusion of Black artists in major art institutions. He continued to curate important exhibitions and to write essays.
Driskell was an influential teacher for over four decades, holding teaching positions at Talladega College, Howard University, Fisk University (institutions associated with the American Missionary Association), and the University of Maryland. He served as a visiting professor of art at Bowdoin College, the University of Michigan, Queens College, and Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. His influence extended beyond the classroom, as he mentored and inspired countless students who went on to make significant contributions to the arts.
His achievements and contributions to the field of American art brought him significant recognition. In 2000, he received the National Humanities Medal; in 2001, the University of Maryland established the David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora; in 2007, he was elected as a National Academician by the National Academy of Design; and in 2018, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.