ARTNOIR'S - AFRICAN/AMERICAN ART HISTORY 101

ARTNOIR'S AFRICAN/AMERICAN ART HISTORY 101

ELIZABETH CATLETT (MORA) (1919- )

catlett A native Washingtonian, Elizabeth Catlett attended the Lucretia Mott Elementary School, Dunbar High School, and then Howard University. Later, she earned a Masters at the State University of Iowa, and attended the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Art Students League in New York. She completed more studies in wood carving in Mexico. In an interview with Glory Van Scott in December 1981 in Artist and Influence, Hatch-Billops Collection, v. 10, she stated that she changed her major to painting because of Porter's influence and she realized that one didn't have to be a commercial painter. "James Porter was the person who influenced me to be a painter because there was no sculpture [division] at Howard at the time, I imagine, it was the only art department in a black university in the United States. It was the first one. James Herring started it. He was there and they had an art gallery." She continued "my audience is the main mass of people, especially the black people...I am thinking of what will they think about this."

She became the 'promotion director' for the George Washington Carver School in Harlem located at 57 W. 125th St. Roy DeCarava was one of the students. Some of the teachers included Ernie Crichlow, Norman Lewis, and Charles White.

She went to Mexico to study 'mural' painting and printmaking. She attended the Graphic Arts Workshop which was organized in 1936. There she and other artists created a series of linoleum cuts on black heroes. They "did posters, leaflets, collective booklets, illustrations for textbooks, posters and illustrations for the construction of schools, against illiteracy in Mexico." She taught scupture at the National University in Mexico for sixteen years. This is one of the oldest art schools in America.

She has received numerous awards including the Women's Caucus For Art, the Graphic Arts Workshop won an international peace prize. In Berkeley, an Elizabeth Catlett Week was proclaimed, and an Elizabeth Catlett Day in Cleveland, Ohio. She's an honorary citizen of New Orleans and has received the keys to many cities.

She has created numerous outdoor sculptures which are displayed in Mexico; in Jackson, Mississippi; and, Washington, D.C. She is represented in many collections through the world including the Institute of Fine Arts, Mexico, the Museum of Modern Art, NY; Museum of Modern Art, Mexico; National Museum of Prague; Library of Congress, Washington, D.C; State University of Iowa; Howard University; Fisk Unitersity; Atlanta University; the Barnett-Aden Collection, Tampa, Fl.; Schomburg Collection, NY; Rothman Gallery, L.A.; Musuem of New Orleans, High Museum, Atlanta; and the Metropolitan Museum, NY.

Samella Lewis has published a book entitled Elizabeth Catlett, Handcraft Studios, 1984.

mona OTHER WORKS BY THIS ARTIST:

Singing Head
kente

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