Black History & Culture

This Black History Month, explore stories and collections from museums and top cultural institutions

In collaboration with

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureCarnegie HallSouls Grown DeepCincinnati Art MuseumCreative TimeNational Underground Railroad Freedom CenterThe J. Paul Getty Museum
and 94 more collections

“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”

– Dr. Mae Jemison

Celebrate Black history

Celebrating Black History

And honoring the untold stories of the African-American journey

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Martin Luther King Jr.'s Memorial

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Zoom into masterpieces

This work was created in 1982, a particularly important moment in the career of Jean-Michel Basquiat, after his discovery as an artist, and before his period of maximum productivity.

Most of the pictorial surface is taken up by a chaotic jumble of scrawls, words, numbers, symbols, and colors. Humor, irony, and primitivism define this forceful, representative painting. The resulting effect is that of a crowd of shouting, echoing, responding voices. The repetitions, variations, cross-outs, and spelling mistakes are reminiscent of graffiti.

The title of the painting comes from a phrase written over the head of a red pig which, although surrounded by countless inscriptions, splashes of color, cross-outs, and elementary signs, dominates the composition like a totemic image.

'Man from Naples' was inspired by his visit to Italy in 1982 and reflects the artist’s feelings of resentment toward his wealthy Italian patron, whom he scornfully refers to as a “pork merchant” and other unflattering epithets.

Man from Naples, Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1982

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From pop culture pioneers...

Black cultures on stage

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