Jacob Lawrence
Jacob Lawrence was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1917. Later, the family moved to Philadelphia. When he was ten he lived with a foster family for a time while his mother moved to New York to find a job. When Jacob's father left, his mother became a single parent. They lived in Harlem, a place Jacob often painted. She worked as a maid, but often they lived on welfare. Jacob worked at small jobs when he could. As a teenager, he joined the Harlem Art Workshop and was taught by another famous African American artist, Charles Alston. From the time he was hired by the WPA at the age of 21 his reputation as an artist has grown. He has created numerous painting series depicting black historical figures and themes. He is considered one of the world's most acclaimed African American artists.
