One of the first Black artists to receive national acclaim in the United States, Jacob Armstead Lawrence (1917–2000) was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, before moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and then to Harlem, New York, in 1930. While enrolled in a community after-school arts program, Lawrence developed his talents as a painter, drawing praise and encouragement from artist Charles Alston, who ran the program at the time. Despite his family’s financial struggles during the Great Depression, Lawrence continued his pursuit of the arts, developing a series of multipanel realist paintings dedicated to iconic Black historical figures, including Toussaint L’Ouverture, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. In 1938, he had his first solo exhibition at the Harlem YMCA and had begun to work for the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
In 1940, Lawrence received a grant from a philanthropic organization called the Rosenwald Fund, which allowed him to begin what would become his most famous work: The Migration Series, a narrative piece comprised of casein tempera paint on 60 18-by-12-inch hardboard panels featuring captions he’d written before he began to paint. (Fellow artist and future wife Gwendolyn Knight helped with the text.) Lawrence’s series focuses on the Great Migration of Black Americans from the agricultural South to the industrial North between 1910 and 1940.
By the end of the 1940s, Lawrence had earned widespread recognition for his important work and was the most celebrated Black artist in the United States. He continued covering Black historical figures throughout his career, though he also painted social commentaries on contemporary issues, like World War II and civil rights. He taught at the Art Students League in New York and at Black Mountain College in North Carolina (upon invitation from artist Josef Albers), among other institutions.
Lawrence’s works can be found in the collections of many major museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and elsewhere. His painting The Builders hangs in the White House today, as it was acquired by the White House Historical Association in 2007.
Find watercolor paintings, prints and more by Jacob Lawrence on 1stDibs.
$5,800
SCHOMBURG LIBRARY 1986 Lithograph, African American History, Black Culture
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Union City, NJ
SCHOMBURG LIBRARY is a hand drawn, limited edition lithograph by the renowned African American artist Jacob Lawrence, printed using traditional hand ...
Lithograph
Confrontation at the Bridge, Signed Screenprint by Jacob Lawrence
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Long Island City, NY
In this signed print by Black American artist Jacob Lawrence, a group of protestors marches across a bridge with expressions of fear and trepidation. Below them churns a tumultuous r...
Screen
The 1920's, The Migrants Cast Their Ballots, by Jacob Lawrence
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Long Island City, NY
An original fine art print by Jacob Lawrence from the Kent Spirit of Independence Poster Portfolio, published in 1975 by Lorillard. The offset prints from this portfolio are unsigned...
Offset
Jacob Lawrence Pop Art Screenprint, 1977, Signed, "The Swearing In"
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: The Swearing In Portfolio: Inaugural Impressions Medium: Screenprint Date: 1977 Edition: 63/100 Sheet Size: 20" x 30" Frame Size: 27" x 37" Signature: H...
Screen
1972 Munich Olympics original poster by Victor Vasarely
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in PARIS, FR
A striking fusion of modernist aesthetics and Olympic spirit, this 1972 original poster by Victor Vasarely stands out as one of the most iconic contributions to the visual identity o...
Paper, Lithograph
1972 Munich Olympics original poster by Jacob Lawrence
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in PARIS, FR
Created for the 1972 Munich Olympics, this powerful original poster by renowned American artist Jacob Lawrence stands as a compelling intersection of sport, art, and identity. Part o...
Paper, Lithograph
$540Sale Price|22% Off
THE BUILDERS 1985 Commemorative Lithograph Poster, 1st Edition
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Union City, NJ
JACOB LAWRENCE THE BUILDERS 1985 Commemorative Poster - National Urban League 75th Anniversary 1910-1985 Vintage original 1985 printing Poster size - 35.25 x 22 inches, unframed, u...
Offset
Jacob Lawrence The Builders (The Family) 1974 Signed Screen-Print
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: The Builders (The Family) Medium: Screenprint in color Edition: 115/300 Publisher: Published by IBM Corporation, New York (Nesbett 74-1) Image Size: 30"...
Screen
Jacob Lawrence Carpenters 1997 Lithograph Signed Edition of 300
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: Carpenters Medium: Offset Lithograph in Colors on B.F.K. Rives Paper Edition: 130/300 + 10 AP + 10 HC Publisher: Published by Himan Brown, New York Prin...
Paper, Lithograph
Jacob Lawrence Harlem Street Scene Signed 1975 Screen-print
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: Harlem Street Scene Medium: Screenprint in Color Edition: 113/150 Sheet Size: 26" x 19-3/4" Frame Size: 36" x 29-3/4" Year: 1975 Publisher: Published by...
Paper, Screen
$743,750
"Windows"
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Jim's of Lambertville Fine Art Gallery is proud to present this work by Jacob Lawrence (1917 – 2000). Provenance: This painting is from the private collection of Gwen Lawrence, widow of Jacob Lawrence. Exhibitions: An attached photo (3rd photo) of the back of the piece shows its extensive exhibition history. Biography: Leading African-American narrative painter, Jacob Lawrence was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1917. After his father abandoned his family in 1924, Lawrence spent several years in foster homes before reuniting with his mother in 1930 in Harlem, New York. In New York, he attended art classes organized at the Harlem Art Workshop with Charles Aston and the Harlem Community Art Center with Augusta Savage. There, he met fellow young painters, Aaron Douglas, and William Johnson...
Gouache
$14,500
Jacob Lawrence Stained Glass Windows Signed 2000 Screenprint Edition of 135
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: B,SGW (Stained Glass Windows) Medium: Screenprint in Colors on Rising Paper Edition: Edition 2/135 Publisher: Spradling Ames Corporation, Key West, FL P...
Paper, Screen
"To Preserve Their Freedom" Post-Cubist Screenprint, 1988
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Astoria, NY
Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917-2000), "To Preserve Their Freedom", Screenprint in Colors on Bainbridge Two-Ply Rag Paper, 1988, from "The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture", signed in pe...
Screen, Paper
L'Ouverture Screenprint, Edition 76/100, Signed and Dated 1986
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Astoria, NY
Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917-2000), "General Toussaint L'Ouverture", Screenprint in Colors on Bainbridge Two-Ply Rag Paper, 1986, signed in pencil and dated lower right, titled low...
Paper, Screen
"The March" Cubist Screenprint in Colors, Signed, 1995
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Astoria, NY
"The March," 1995, Screenprint in colors on Bainbridge paper, from the series The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture. Signed in pencil and dated lower right, titled lower center, numbered...
Paper, Screen
St. Marc Screenprint in Frame, Edition 9/120, Signed and Dated 1994
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Astoria, NY
Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917-2000), "St. Marc", Screenprint in Colors on Bainbridge Two-Ply Rag Paper, 1994, from "The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture", signed in pencil and dated "7...
Screen, Paper
Jacob Lawrence The Swearing In Color Screenprint Signed Edition of 100
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: The Swearing In Medium: Color screenprint on Cream Wove Paper Dimensions: 18" x 28" Year: 1977 Inscription: Signed, titled, dated and numbered 80/100 in...
Paper, Screen
Jacob Lawrence The First Book of Moses Called Genesis Bound Book Screenprints
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: The First Book of Moses Called Genesis Medium: Bound book of 8 color screenprints and text, printed by Limited Editions Club, New York; printed at Osiri...
Paper, Screen
$1,450
H 17.5 in W 22.5 in
SIGNED 1960s Jean DUBUFFET print (Jean Dubuffet exhibition poster)
By Jean Dubuffet
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Jean Dubuffet Ustensiles Utopiques 1966: Hand-signed Jean Dubuffet lithographic poster published on the occasion of: "Jean Dubuffet, Recent Pa...
Offset, Laid Paper, Lithograph
$100
H 20 in W 14 in
Five Musicians Embossed Lithograph Print with Foil Stamping, Signed, Judaica Art
By Amram Ebgi
Located in Aventura, FL
Embossed lithograph with foil stamping on paper. Hand signed and numbered by the artist. From the edition of 750. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity in...
Foil
$100
H 19 in W 14 in
Aquarium, Judaica Art Embossed Lithograph with Foil Stamping, Signed Ed of 450
By Amram Ebgi
Located in Aventura, FL
Embossed lithograph with foil stamping on paper. Hand signed and numbered by the artist. AP edition of 450. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity included...
Foil
$250
H 23.5 in W 11.25 in
Cubist Room Lithograph Print, Surrealist, Hand Signed AP Edition
By Ferjo, Fernando de Jesus Oliveira
Located in Aventura, FL
Lithograph in colors on paper. Hand signed and numbered by the artist. AP edition. Sheet size 23.5 x 11.25 inches. Image size approx 19.5 x 9.75 inches. Artwork is in excellen...
Paper, Lithograph
$1,500
H 31.5 in W 24 in
Untitled from Ventanas Series, Hand Signed Lithograph, Edition of 50, 2005
By Juan Soriano
Located in Aventura, FL
From the ' Ventanas' series. Lithograph on paper. Hand signed, dated and numbered by the artist. Edition of 50. Sheet size: 31.5 x 24 in. Additional images available upon request. Ce...
Paper, Lithograph
$2,963
H 48 in W 46 in D 1 in
Home Serigraph by Romero Britto, Hand Signed, Pop Art, Framed, 1990s
By Romero Britto
Located in Aventura, FL
Serigraph in colors on paper. Hand signed lower left margin by Romero Britto. Hand numbered AP lower right margin (there is also a main edition of 300). Dedicated and signed lowe...
Gesso, Board, Screen
$3,200
H 19.5 in W 15.125 in D 2 in
Steve Kaufman "Abraham Lincoln" 1990 Artist Proof Serigraph, Hand Signed Verso
By Steve Kaufman
Located in Miami, FL
STEVE KAUFMAN – "ABRAHAM LINCOLN" ⚜ Serigraph on Canvas ⚜ Initialed Verso ⚜ Edition 48/50 AP ⚜ Black Float Frame VIBRANT POP ICONOGRAPHY OF AN AMERICAN LEGEND This bold 1990 serigra...
Screen, Canvas
$600
H 15 in W 10.5 in
Surrealist Abstract Hebrew Shabbat Pop Art Silkscreen Judaica Jewish Serigraph
By Jozsef Jakovits
Located in Surfside, FL
Abstract Hebrew Prints on heavy mould made paper from small edition of 15. there is a facing page of text in Hungarian folded over. Hard edged geometric abstract prints in color base...
Archival Paper, Screen
$3,824
H 26.78 in W 26.78 in
TAKASHI MURAKAMI: Chaos: Primordial Life - Superflat, Japanese Pop Art
By Takashi Murakami
Located in Madrid, Madrid
CHAOS: PRIMORDIAL LIFE Date of creation: 2017 Medium: Offset lithograph with cold stamp on paper Edition: 300 Size: 68 x 68 cm Condition: In mint conditions, brand new and never fram...
Paper, Varnish, Lithograph, Offset
$600
H 15 in W 10.5 in
Hungarian Surrealism Pop Art Hebrew Silkscreen Judaica Print Jewish Serigraph
By Jozsef Jakovits
Located in Surfside, FL
Abstract Hebrew Prints on heavy mould made paper from small edition of 15. there is a facing page of text in Hungarian folded over. Hard edged geometric abstract prints in color base...
Archival Paper, Screen
$240,000
H 43.25 in W 35.75 in D 2 in
Untitled, from Three Lithographs by Keith Haring, Signed, Edition 59/80, 1985
By Keith Haring
Located in Aventura, FL
Lithograph in black and red, on BFK Rives paper. Hand signed and dated lower right by Keith Haring. Hand numbered 59/80 lower right (there were also twenty artist's proofs). Sheet...
Paper, Lithograph
$8,500
H 27 in W 35 in
THOMAS MORAN Grand Canyon of Arizona from Hermit Rim Road 1912 Chromolithograph
By Thomas Moran
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
IN PRISTINE CONDITION. A color Chromolithograph published by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in 1912 after the original oil painting, “Gr...
Paper, Lithograph
Sold
H 40 in W 25.25 in
'The Relay Race" — Original Olympic Poster, Munich — Black American Artist
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Jacob Lawrence, 'The Relay Race' (Olympische Spiele München 1972), 12-color serigraph, signed in the matrix, lower right. From the 1972 limited edition silk screen edition of not mor...
Screen
Sold
H 21.5 in W 17.5 in
The 1920's, The Migrants Cast Their Ballots, Modern Print by Jacob Lawrence
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jacob Lawrence, American (1917 - 2000) - The 1920's, The Migrants Cast Their Ballots, Portfolio: Kent Bicentennial Portfolio, Year: 1975, Medium: Offset Lithograph, Image Size: 1...
Offset
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H 39.77 in W 25.2 in
The Relay Race : Passing the Baton - Lithograph (Olympic Games Munich 1972)
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Paris, IDF
Jacob Lawrence The Relay Race: Passing the Baton Lithograph poster Signature printed in the plate On heavy paper 101 x 64 cm (c. 40 x 26 inch) Made for the Olympic Games in Munich, ...
Lithograph
Sold
H 39.77 in W 25.2 in
The Relay Race : Passing the Baton - Lithograph (Olympic Games Munich 1972)
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Paris, IDF
Jacob Lawrence The Relay Race: Passing the Baton Lithograph poster Signature printed in the plate On heavy paper 101 x 64 cm (c. 40 x 26 inch) Made for the Olympic Games in Munich, ...
Lithograph
original lithograph
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original lithograph. This lithograph was printed in 1955 for the "Improvisations" portfolio, and published by the Artists Equity Association of New York in an edition of 2000...
Lithograph
The Swearing In, Modern Print by Jacob Lawrence
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Long Island City, NY
This print by Jacob Lawrence was commissioned for the portfolio "Innagural Impressions", Lawrence initially created two paintings and this screenprint was modeled after the first one...
Screen
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H 35.25 in W 23 in
THE BUILDERS 1985 National Urban League, 1st Edition, Men Working Construction
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Union City, NJ
JACOB LAWRENCE THE BUILDERS 1985 Commemorative Poster - National Urban League 75th Anniversary 1910-1985, Vintage original 1985 printing Poster size - 35.25 x 23 inches, unframed, u...
Offset
original lithograph
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original lithograph. This lithograph was printed in 1955 for the "Improvisations" portfolio, and published by the Artists Equity Association of New York in an edition of 2000...
Lithograph
The Swearing In, from 1977 Inaugural Impressions
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Jacob Lawrence Title: The Swearing In Portfolio: Inaugural Impressions Medium: Screenprint Date: 1977 Edition: 51/100 Sheet Size: 20" x 30" Signature: Hand signed and numbere...
Screen
original lithograph
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original lithograph. This lithograph was printed in 1954 for the "Improvisations" portfolio, published by the Artists Equity Association of New York on the occasion of the 19...
Lithograph
original lithograph
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original lithograph. This lithograph was printed in 1957 for the "Improvisations" portfolio, published by the Artists Equity Association of New York on the occasion of the 19...
Lithograph
Sold
H 39.77 in W 25.2 in
The Relay Race : Passing the Baton - Lithograph (Olympic Games Munich 1972)
By Jacob Lawrence
Located in Paris, IDF
Jacob Lawrence The Relay Race: Passing the Baton Lithograph poster Signature printed in the plate On heavy paper 101 x 64 cm (c. 40 x 26 inch) Made for the Olympic Games in Munich, ...
Lithograph