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Benny Andrews papers

 Collection
Identifier: aarl92-001

Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of many exhibit programs; catalogs; periodical articles about the artist and his influences; and "information about other family members and their contributions to the art world.

Dates

  • 1971-1992

Creator

Restrictions on Use

There are no restrictions on research use of this collection.

Copyright Restrictions

Prior permission from the Research Library must be obtained in writing before any portion of this collection can be published or reproduced.

Historical Sketch

Benny Andrews is a painter who was born in Madison, Georgia on November 13, 1930. He was one of 10 children. He attended Fort Valley State College from 1948 to 1950 and received his art training at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1954-1958, where he earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree. He has held teaching positions at several colleges and has been the Director of the Visual Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts Foundation.

Benny Andrews has also been an activist for African-American artists since the 1960's when he moved to New York. He helped to found an organization called the Black Emergency Cultural Coalition in 1969 in response to what many artists considered the condescending "Harlem on My Mind" exhibition mounted at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He continued to exhibit leadership in the arts by instituting outreach programs during the early 1980's in prisons, schools, and small towns in the United States.

He has participated in solo and group exhibitions across America since 1959 and has permanent collections at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Ga; the Hirshorn Museum of the Smithsonian Institute, Wash., D.C.; the Museum of Modern Art, N.Y.; and the O'Hara Museum in Tokyo, Japan, to name a few.

In addition to his solo art work, Benny Andrews has been a guest curator; an illustrator for several books; and an author of numerous articles. He has collaborated with his brother, Raymond his father, George, and his mother, Viola on different projects.

Mr. Andrews still travels to Georgia periodically to paint and continues to exhibit and lecture throughout the world.

Extent

3.0 Linear feet

Language

English

Overview

The collection consists of African American artist Benny Andrews' exhibit programs, announcements, guides, booklets, and catalogs for solo and collaborative exhibits between 1975 and 1992 as well as periodical articles from 1971 to 1992 and information about the artistic contributions of his family members.

Series

  1. I. Exhibit programs, 1975-1992
  2. II. Periodical articles, 1971-1992
  3. III. Posters, 1980

Provenance

The collection at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History was donated by Mr. Andrews in 1992.

Related Materials at Other Institutions

Benny Andrews and Nene Humphrey papers, Special Collections, Woodruff Library, Emory University.

Processing Information

May, 1994

Title
Inventory of the Benny Andrews Papers aarl92-001 aarl92-001
Author
Finding aid prepared by Finding aid prepared by Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History
Date
2004 September 15
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History Repository

Contact:
101 Auburn Avenue NE
Atlanta GA 30303
404-613-4032