TitleSelf-Portrait
Artist
Hughie Lee-Smith
(1915 - 1999)
Date1964
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsUnframed: 24 x 20 in.
Framed: 29 3/16 x 25 3/16 x 2 in.
SignedSigned at lower right: "Lee-Smith"
SubmissionANA diploma presentation, April 4, 1966
Credit LineNational Academy of Design, New York, NY
Object number1670-P
Label TextMost closely associated with so-called "Magic" or "Romantic Realism," a trend in the mid-twentieth century that combined Surrealist tendencies with classical precedents, Hughie Lee-Smith became one of the most prominent African-American artists of his generation. Like Italian surrealist Giorgio de Chirico, a great inspiration to the artist, Lee-Smith's work often combined a personal iconography with explicit psychological isolation to create an enigmatic narrative. During his career, the artist painted a number of portraits of prominent African Americans, including Mayor Dinkins' portrait for City Hall in 1994. Lee-Smith's election to the National Academy in 1965 signaled the beginning of a more inclusive institution.Collections
- Artist Portrait Highlights from the Collection
