Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art

Bringing focus to African-American art and its essential place in the history of American art.

  • Browse
    • Browse Artworks
    • Browse Artists
    • Collection Slideshows
  • About
    • Mission Statement
    • Artwork Copyright
  • Exhibitions
    • Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
    • Complete List of Loans & Testimonials
  • Educational Resources
    • PFF African American Art History Curriculum
    • Publications
    • Videos
      • Shuga & Wata
  • News
    • Collection Updates
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Create an Exhibition
  • Log In

Jack Whitten

1939-2018

Works in the Collection

No works found.

Biography

Jack Whitten was an American abstract painter and sculptor known for his innovative techniques and experimental approach to materials. Born in 1939 in Bessemer, Alabama, he first pursued pre-medical studies and served as an ROTC cadet at the Tuskegee Institute. Whitten eventually transferred to Southern University in Baton Rouge to pursue art. There, he became active in the Civil Rights Movement. He relocated to New York in 1960 to study at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, where he earned his BFA in painting in 1964.
Pioneering techniques such as his “slab” paintings,  he used custom tools to manipulate layers of acrylic paint. Whitten believed that art should reflect the period in which it’s made, creating paintings as abstracted tributes to Black artists, musicians, and public figures. Over his six-decade career, he was widely celebrated, receiving the National Medal of Arts in 2016. Whitten lived in New York City, where he passed away in January 2018.

© Copyright 2025 Petrucci Family Foundation | Artwork Copyright Information

Join The Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art


Login to The Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art


Lost Password?

Reset Password

Enter the username or e-mail you used in your profile. A password reset link will be sent to you by email.



Loading...

Don't have an account? Sign Up Already have an account? Login