The University of Texas at Austin is honored to be the home of twenty-three works by Charles White, one of the 20th century’s most accomplished draftsmen and influential art educators. This exhibition celebrates the artist’s remarkable career and legacy, made possible by the generous gift of artworks from Drs. Susan G. and Edmund W. Gordon of Pomona, New York and is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue published by UT Press.
Another exhibition organized by the Christian-Green Gallery of Black Studies at UT is on view concurrently, from August 28 through November 30, 2019. The Blanton’s exhibition features White’s drawings and prints alongside work by those in his circle and reveals the impact of White’s artistic output on pop culture and representations of black life; the Christian-Green Gallery exhibition considers White’s legacy and influence on contemporary artists, especially those interested in the human figure, including Deborah Roberts and Vincent Valdez.
Charles White, “General Moses and Sojourner (Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth),” 1954, Wolff carbon pencil and white chalk over traces of graphite pencil with scratching out, blending, and charcoal wash splatter, 70.8 cm x 96.5 cm (27 7/8 in. x 38 in.). Gift of Susan G. and Edmund W. Gordon to the units of Black Studies and the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas at Austin.
Charles White, “Awaken from the Unknowing,” 1961, compressed charcoal and brown and gray vine charcoal with scratching out, blending, and erasing on cold-pressed illustration board, 81.9 x 145.4 x 4.4 cm (32 1/4 x 57 1/4 x 1 3/4 in.). Gift of Susan G. and Edmund W. Gordon to the units of Black Studies and the Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin.
Charles Whites, “Wanted Poster Series #6,” 1969, oil wash brushed and stenciled with masking out over traces of graphite pencil, 163.2 x 81 x 5.1 cm (64 1/4 x 31 7/8 x 2 in.). Gift of Susan G. and Edmund W. Gordon to the units of Black Studies and the Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin.
Fletcher Martin, “Down for the Count,” 1936-1937, oil on canvas, 75.6 cm x 120.7 cm (29 3/4 in. x 47 1/2 in.). Gift of Mari and James A. Michener, 1991.
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Organized by Carter E. Foster, Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs, Blanton Museum of Art; Veronica Roberts, Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art, Blanton Museum of Art; Dr. Cherise Smith, Chair of the African and African Diaspora Studies (AADS) Department and founding executive director of the Art Galleries at Black Studies (AGBS) at The University of Texas at Austin; Phillip Townsend, Drs. Susan G. and Edmund W. Gordon Fellow in African American Art, Blanton Museum of Art.; and Eddie Chambers, Professor, Art History (African Diaspora Art), The University of Texas at Austin.