An elegant and exclusive visual record of the various means by which Black Americans have utilized portraiture to imagine themselves.

With a focus on Black American subjects, sitters, and spaces, Black American Portraits showcases approximately 140 works from LACMA's permanent collection spanning two centuries from around 1800 to the present day. This book, curated by David C. Driskell, serves as a companion to the exhibition of the same name that reframes portraiture through a lens of love, abundance, family, community, and exuberance rather than the stereotypical depictions of Black pain. The collection includes a diverse range of mediums, such as painting, drawing, prints, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and time-based media, providing a thoughtful and sensitive depiction of Black artists, communities, histories, and subjects.

Artists include: Alvin Baltrop, Edward Biberman, Bisa Butler, Jordan Casteel, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Bruce Davidson, Stan Douglas, rafa esparza, Shepard Fairey, Charles Gaines, Sargent Claude Johnson, Deana Lawson, Kerry James Marshall, Alice Neel, Lorraine O'Grady, Catherine Opie, Amy Sherald, Ming Smith, Henry Taylor, Tourmaline, Mickalene Thomas, James Van Der Zee, Carrie Mae Weems, Charles White, Kehinde Wiley and Deborah Willis.