Born in Eatonton, Georgia, David Driskell (1931–2020) was a revered American artist whose work inspired generations of artists and audiences alike. Icons of Nature and History reveals the artist’s aesthetic inheritances from home, family, the South, and his formative education—at Howard University, Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, and the Catholic University of America—as well as the influence of his sojourns to Europe, Africa, and South America. His artistic evolution is marked by distinctive eras, experiences, and experiments with media. What remains steadfast in his paintings and collages is a commitment to a symbolic form that elevates the mind and the spirit above that which exists in the physical world: these are Driskell’s icons.
Spanning seven decades, this survey of Driskell’s art moves the center of critical art history to Driskell’s arenas: Washington, DC; Talladega, Alabama; Nashville, Tennessee; Hyattsville, Maryland; and Falmouth, Maine. In so doing, it invites us to see American art more comprehensively and to appreciate the contributions of historically Black colleges and universities to this canon. Artists have the vision to see beyond the ordinary, Driskell tells us. Among the many gifts he bequeaths to us is the delight of seeing the world through his eyes, and it is a journey of immeasurable beauty and grace.
All works of art are by David Driskell unless otherwise noted.
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Self-Portrait , 1953, oil on board, 15 1/4 x 11 inches. Collection of the Estate of David C. Driskell, Maryland. Photograph by Luc Demers. © Estate of David C. Driskell, courtesy DC Moore Gallery, New Y](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255959679-033I3EB9ZT7EBJ7JE84R/1_Self-Portrait%2C+1953_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), City Quartet , 1953, oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches. Purchased by the David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, with funds from the C. Sylvia and Eddie Brown Arts Acquisition](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255960351-L6K1YBO56XRIE4QEDPQ3/4_City-Quartet%2C-1953_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Untitle d , 1953, gouache, watercolor, and pen and ink on wove paper, 7 5/8 x 10 inches. Gift to the David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, from the Sandra and Lloyd Bacc](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255962361-8CBU2OSFJKL2O9IYSAXS/9_Untitled-%28abstract%29%2C-1958_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Fisherman’s Pride , 1956, oil on canvas, 20 x 24 inches. Collection of the Estate of David C. Driskell, Maryland. Photograph by Luc Demers. © Estate of David C. Driskell, courtesy DC Moore Gallery, New](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255964323-9ZDEFA95V2PPHEZC6CP0/11_Fisherman%E2%80%99s-Pride%2C1956_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Young Pines Growing , 1959, oil on canvas, 40 3/4 x 30 3/4 inches. Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, John Hope Franklin Purchase Award. © Estate of David C. Driskell](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255967499-YKLPOA4OUFBFTPSRHOJ6/13-%28hi-res-option-2%29_Young-Pines-Growing%2C-1959_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Two Pines #2 , 1964, oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches. High Museum of Art, Atlanta. Gift of David C. and Thelma G. Driskell, 2000.203. © Estate of David C. Driskell](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255968437-1K0XDHM3I3J1S49QUW5S/15_Two-Pines-%232%2C-1964_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Pine and Moon , 1971, oil on Masonite, 47 3/8 x 35 1/8 inches. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Museum purchase with support from the Friends of the Collection, 2011.4. Photograph by Luc Demers. © Estate](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255970377-NS7U9RJN90ZAXIK7SJCG/17_Pine-and-Moon%2C-1971_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Behold Thy Son , 1956, oil on canvas, 40 x 30 inches. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, DC. © Estate of David C. Driskell](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255973578-Z5Z4C6LDE4KVAOEL4RQF/19_Behold-Thy-Son%2C-1956_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Still Life with Sunset , 1966, oil on canvas, 48 x 32 inches. Collection of Joseph and Lynne Horning, Washington, DC. © Estate of David C. Driskell, courtesy DC Moore Gallery, New York ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255976458-SPIWQ92I7MWAXOGG5D89/26_Still-Life-With-Sunset%2C-1966_BEST_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Ghetto Wall #2 , 1970, oil, acrylic, and collage on linen, 60 x 50 inches. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Museum purchase with support from the Friends of the Collection, including Anonymous (2), Charlt](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255977955-S3FXOJCCKB1Z4FA1KP7V/34_Ghetto-Wall-%232%2C-1970_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Swing Low, Sweet Chariot , 1972, acrylic on canvas, 50 x 36 inches. Tougaloo College Art Collections, Tougaloo, Mississippi. Purchased by Tougaloo College with support from the National Endowment for th](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255979213-4P1FF6I9RRDIVRVXGTFJ/36_Swing-Low%2C-Sweet-Chariot%2C-1972_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Self-Portrait as Beni (“I Dream Again of Benin”) , July 13, 1974, egg tempera, gouache, and collage, 17 x 13 inches. High Museum of Art, Atlanta. Purchase with David C. Driskell African American Art Acq](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255980283-5Y89C0PMI1L02CCR8UA7/42_Self-Portrait-as-Beni-%28%E2%80%9CI-Dream-Again-of-Benin%E2%80%9D%29%2C-July-13%2C-1974_BEST_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Self-Portrait as a Nkisi Nkondi Figure , circa 2010 , graphite, charcoal, mixed media drawing in sketchbook, approximately 11 x 8 1/2 inches. Collection of the Estate of David C. Driskell, Maryland. Ph](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255981180-GBV7SX6APNN8PO46I9X7/43_Self-Portrait-as-a-Nkisi-Nkondi%2C-circa-1990_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Woman with Flowers , 1972, oil and collage on canvas, 37 1/2 x 38 1/2 inches. Art Bridges, Bentonville, Arkansas, AB.2018.3. © Estate of David C. Driskell](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255984700-P88YGXTVBM4H77ZRN9FZ/46_Woman-with-Flowers%2C-1972_BEST_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Memories of a Distant Past , 1975, egg tempera, gouache, and collage on paper, 21 1/2 x 16 inches. Collection of Joseph and Lynne Horning, Washington, DC. © Estate of David C. Driskell, courtesy DC Moor](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255986392-Y1BMAWVREDYGGM1WYHG2/48_Memories-of-a-Distant-Past%2C-1975_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Homage to Romare , 1976, collage and gouache on Masonite, 23 1/2 x 29 1/2 inches. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond. Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Endowment, 2017.3. Photograph by Travis Fullerton. ©](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255988316-YXOY71QG46DKOHCO78JV/52_Homage-to-Romare%2C-1976_BEST_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Yaddo Circle , 1980, egg tempera and gouache on handmade paper, 45 x 31 inches. Collection of the Estate of David C. Driskell, Maryland. Photograph by Stephen Bates. © Estate of David C. Driskell and DC](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255989438-0V01S6GESV76M7K0PS6S/57_Yaddo-Circle%2C-1980_BEST_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Shaker Chair and Quilt , 1988, encaustic and collage on paper, 31 3/8 x 22 5/8 inches. Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, Maine. Museum Purchase, George Otis Hamlin Fund, 1990.2. © Estate of Davi](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255990469-IYT0RQVG4RRONUTWPBPO/64_Shaker-Chair-and-Quilt%2C-1988_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Flowing Like a River , 1996–97, collage and gouache on paper, 25 x 30 inches. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia. Caroline Thomas Fund and Harold A. and Ann R. Sorgenti Fund for African](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255993673-A7AMTRLSKT9SJPBA69VO/70_Flowing-Like-a-River%2C-1996-1997_BEST_small.jpg)
![David C. Driskell (United States, 1931–2020), Night Vision (for Jacob Lawrence) , 2005, collage and gouache on paper, 16 1/2 x 22 inches. Collection of Richard and Barbara Schiffrin, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Photograph by Sandra Paci. © Estate of D](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623255993735-CDHG74ER45PI8KY5G4SP/73_Night-Vision-for-Jacob-Lawrence%2C-2005_small.jpg)
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Events and Programming
Missed an event? Catch it all here.
David Driskell: Icons of Nature and History Members Opening Program with Jessica May and Julie McGee, June 17, 2021
Indigo Arts Alliance presents Driskell's Legacy and the Land: Re-Contextualizing Environmental Justice, July 28, 2021
Bernard Osher Lecture with Dr. Adrienne L. Childs, David C. Driskell: Interiors, Objects, and the Spirit of Form, July 13, 2021
Indigo Arts Alliance and PMA Films presents a Conversation with Black Art: In The Absence of Light Filmmaker Sam Pollard, September 9, 2021
![1.34_Fank-Stewart,-Portrait-of-the-artist-in-his-studio,-Falmouth,-Maine,-2018.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594bea6eccf210316877b8f2/1623432753451-LFOBU7OCZ4UTUCCQA30B/1.34_Fank-Stewart%2C-Portrait-of-the-artist-in-his-studio%2C-Falmouth%2C-Maine%2C-2018.jpg)
When the indomitable human spirit rises above the chaos of violence, hunger and pain and soars to a heightened relief through the making of art, we are classless and raceless so long as we create the spiritual vision. As an artist of African ancestry, I have had to learn to live with racism, sexism and all of the prejudices. I often find refuge and, indeed, solace in the creative process. In the quiet of my small studio nestled in the majestic pines and white birches in Maine, two worlds merge in my work, one of sight, the other of vision. The beauty of nature and the creative world of the imaginations together express the joyous vision I have as an artist, responding to the spiritual urge within to fulfill my earthly task of making and creating my own beautiful world.
Above: Frank Stewart, portrait of David Driskell in his studio, Falmouth, Maine, 2018. Photograph courtesy of and © Frank Stewart
About the curator
Julie L. McGee is an art historian and curator. She co-curated the 2011 exhibition Creative Spirit: The Art of David C. Driskell for the David C. Driskell Center, University of Maryland, College Park. Her current research is focused on the American-Dutch artist Sam Middleton (1927-2015) and transnational art history. McGee is Associate Professor of Africana Studies and Art History and Director of the Interdisciplinary Humanities Research Center at the University of Delaware.