Samella Lewis was an artist and art historian known for her influential support of fellow Black artists.
- Died: May 27, 2022 (Who else died on May 27?)
- Details of death: Died at a hospital in Torrance, California of renal failure at the age of 99.
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A lifetime of art
Lewis began drawing as a young child, and she was able to study art and art history in school, receiving multiple postgraduate degrees. She taught at colleges and universities including Scripps College, where she was the school’s first Black tenured professor. There, Lewis built a multicultural art history curriculum and was a beloved professor for 15 years. While teaching at Scripps, she founded the Museum of African-American Art in Los Angeles. Lewis also founded the journal The International Review of African American Art, and she wrote a number of books on art and artists. Her work helped elevate the art of Black artists, and she became known as the “Godmother of African-American Art.” In addition to championing the work of other artists, Lewis also created a lifetime of her own art, including paintings and prints.
Notable quote
“We also have an obligation to see that valuing and collecting our art is a significant aspect of nurturing. We must familiarize ourselves with our historical and contemporary art in order to understand and know ourselves.” —from an interview for Essence
Tributes to Samella Lewis
Full obituary: Los Angeles Times
