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 Loans and Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
    • Complete List of Loans & Testimonials
  • Educational Resources
    • Publications
    • Videos
      • Shuga & Wata
  • News
    • Collection Updates
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Create an Exhibition
  • Log In

John Biggers

1924-2001

Works in the Collection

Untitled
1981

Add to Your List

View Your List

I Momolu
1965

Add to Your List

View Your List

PFF136-John Biggers, Untitled Seated Nude, Ink, 1957. Two studies of seated female nude, left figure with drape is more finished.
Untitled (Seated Nude)
1957

Add to Your List

View Your List

PFF229-John Biggers, Birmingham…Children of the Morning, 1964. Black and white print depicting a woman and four children in front of a church with four flying birds and four graves in the background.
Birmingham…Children of the Morning
1964

Add to Your List

View Your List

Biography

John Biggers was born in Gastonia, North Carolina in 1924. Known for his narrative murals and outstanding draftsmanship, John Biggers dedicated his work to the depiction of the human condition. Biggers studied at Hampton Institute (now known as Hampton University) under Victor Lowenfeld and Charles White. In 1943, Biggers’ mural, “Dying Soldier”, was featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s landmark exhibition organized by Lowenfeld, “Young Negro Art”. After serving in the United States Navy, he enrolled in Pennsylvania State University (where Lowenfeld had relocated), earning a B.S. and M.S. and PhD. <br /><br />In 1949 Biggers moved to Houston, TX where he founded and then chaired the art department at Texas Southern University. In 1950, he was awarded first prize at the annual exhibition of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston for his painting, “The Cradle”. In 1957, he traveled to Africa on a UNESCO grant to study Western African cultural traditions, becoming one of the first black artists to travel to Africa. This opportunity, which he described as the “the most significant in my life’s experiences”, led to the publication of “Ananse: The Web of Life in Africa” (1961), a book of drawings and text based on his journeys in Ghana, Nigeria, and other parts of Africa. Biggers’s work drew inspiration from his ancestral heritage, African art, Southern black culture, nature, and everyday experiences. Biggers died in 2001.

© Copyright 2023 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