Paintings Featuring African American Musicians | Smithsonian Institution

Skip to main content

Smithsonian Music

Historically, people in the African Diaspora were treated by European painters as props or scenery rather than as subjects, so portraits of African American musicians, much like other markers of status that were long denied to people of color in European-controlled territories, serve as a cultural acknowledgment of their personhood, skill, and value as artists.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Wooden drum used on the Sea Islands, South Carolina
Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Billie Holiday /singer at microphone onstage : photoprint, ca. 1940s
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Poster advertising a James Brown concert at Florida A&M University
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Jacket worn by MC Lyte in the music video for the single Brooklyn
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Untitled
Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Pearl Bailey newspaper advertisement
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

Memphis Slim and the real boogie-woogie sound recording
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Music of the African Diaspora
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Signed guitar and case owned by James Brown
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Hammond B-3 organ owned by James Brown
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

Roots of black music in America sound recording / compiled and edited by Samuel Charters
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Black "Sex" jumpsuit owned by James Brown
National Museum of American History

E-mu SP-12 Drum Machine
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photographic postcard featuring Ray Charles
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Prince 17
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Jacket and pants worn by MC Hammer in music video for "They Put Me in the Mix"
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Wooden clapper from the Cotton Club promoting Ethel Waters
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Aretha Franklin, SCLC convention, Club Paradise, Memphis, TN
Smithsonian American Art Museum

Rhythmic Blues
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Costume worn by Diana Ross as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues
Archives Center, National Museum of American History

African-American Music, Series 3 : sheet music, ca. 1828-1980
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Costume design drawing by Judy Dearing for Billie Holiday in The Song of Sheba
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

African and Afro-American drums sound recording / edited by Harold Courlander
National Museum of African American History and Culture

T-shirt with Public Enemy logo
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Marian Anderson, Celebrated Contralto, Recognized as one of the Greatest of All Time
Smithsonian American Art Museum

Rhythm Band--Harlem
National Museum of American History

African-American Banjo
National Museum of African American History and Culture

CMA Award for Male Vocalist of the Year awarded to Charley Pride
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Jacket worn by Michael Jackson during Victory tour
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Platinum Record Award for the album 1999 given to Prince
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Electric guitar belonging to Chuck Berry, nicknamed "Maybellene"
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Costume drawing by Judy Dearing for Satchmo: America's Musical Legend
Smithsonian American Art Museum

Empress of the Blues
National Museum of African American History and Culture

John Coltrane
Smithsonian American Art Museum

Beverly Plays the Blues

Pages

Back to Top