Dear Art library Library Supporter, The Friends of ART | library deco urgently needs your support to help preserve and protect our archival collections housed in Houston, Texas. After 12 years of personally maintaining many of the operational and storage costs connected to this work, we are now reaching out to our community for support as we continue building a sustainable future for the preservation of African American art history and cultural memory.

The Library of Congress will host Karen Chilton's lecture on Hazel Scott’s artistry and cultural impact on June 18, 2026, exploring themes of erasure and resistance in jazz.

The ART library is undergoing a transition, enhancing membership experiences and introducing new digital library cards focused on Black art and archives.

This week in Black Art News, we honored notable figures, participated in Douglass Day, released our Community Impact Report, and received 501(c)(3) status.

Horace Pippin's art illustrates the importance of internal vision and self-trust, capturing intimate moments of Black life with dignity and depth.

Augusta Savage emphasized mentorship and inspiring emerging Black artists as vital to her artistic legacy, transcending mere objects or sculptures.

Civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate remembered for his political influence and lasting presence in American visual culture A 1984 portrait of Jackson by Mark Hess is held by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG.86.TC13). The acrylic painting, part of the Time Collection, documents his image at a pivotal moment in the 1980s. A moment of Silence... Civil rights leader…

LIVE Community Collab | BHM 2026 — Douglass Day with The Friends of ART | library deco🕒 12–3 PM (EST) | 11 AM–2 PM (CST)Optional Participation | Public Community Event Join The Friends of ART | library deco for a live collective transcription experience honoring Frederick Douglass and Black history. This gathering invites artists, archivists, researchers, and community members to participate in a global moment of digital memory work through collaborative transcription.

ART | library deco proudly announces the release of its 2025 Community Impact Report, a publication that reflects a transformative year of growth, recognition, and forward movement for the Texas-based digital library, repository, and archival platform. Rooted in Black cultural preservation and digital humanities practice, the report documents how the library continues to expand access to art, archives, and scholarship for a global audience.

The Migration Series, Panel no. 45 by Jacob Lawrence: The migrants arrived in Pittsburgh, one of the great industrial centers of the North. This Day in Black Art History — February 9 Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000)Narrative Painting, Migration, and the Archive of Black Movement February 9 invites reflection on the legacy of Jacob Lawrence, whose bold visual storytelling transformed historical memory into color, rhythm, and form.

The content explores the legacy of Black cinema, highlighting its historical significance in visual storytelling, preservation practices, and the impact of films like Ganja & Hess on cultural narratives and identities.

Office for Emergency Management, Office of War Information, Domestic Operations Branch, News Bureau. Carter G. Woodson – Teacher, Historian, Publisher. 1943. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. On February 7, 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson initiated the first Negro History Week, a landmark cultural movement that would later evolve into what we now recognize as Black History Month.

YouTube video by Ossie Davis - Topic

Theory Meets Praxis in Black Archiving The African American Community Archives as Theory is a specialized course designed for lifelong learners, faculty, instructors, and community liaisons who seek t...

A fiery debate on the House floor Friday gave way to the Senate Bill 412’s final vote. Supporters say it’s needed to protect children.

In a new executive order, President Trump has targeted the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency charged with distributing congressionally approved funds to state librari...