Meet modernist Jacob Lawrence

The first retrospective exhibition of artist Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) in Europe is now on view at Kunsthal KAdE. With his colorful, powerful style, Lawrence tells stories about America's Black history. As in his famous series The Great Migration, about the millions of people who left the Southern United States for a new life in the North.

Lawrence is considered one of the most important African-American painters of the 20th century. The survey at KAdE includes his entire body of work, from his youthful work in Harlem in the 1930s, to his final decades in Seattle. On view are 170 works - in addition to photographs and objects from the artist's estate.

We are happy to share some initial reactions from the media and visitors

‘Jacob Lawrence shaped the African-American experience. Sixty years after the fact, his art is painfully currentl.' ~ Volkskrant ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Very impressive and high quality work. Both the art of Jacob Lawrence and the exhibition itself!’

‘Nowhere is there a word too many. As you read, look at another painting and take in the next little text, you know: this is not only very good but also very important. No president with dictatorial tendencies should simply try to erase that..’ ~ Museum Magazine

‘Very impressive exhibition about an artist I did not know but will not forget.’

Discover the story behind the artist

In the United States, Jacob Lawrence is a well-known name and part of many permanent collections of major art museums. In Europe, he is still almost completely unknown. Therefore, we have created the website www.jacoblawrence.nl created, where we talk more about his work and life.

The exhibition can be visited Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and admission is free for visitors up to age 24.