aWoman of Dignity

At the age of seven, Charles White taught himself to paint, and later received many scholarships to pursue his artistic endeavors, completing his education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  Raised during the Great Depression, he was inspired by his mother—a strong woman who lead the family through hardship. This is evident in his works, as he became well-known for his depictions of strong, proud African-American men and women.  Charles White contracted tuberculosis while in military service; this forced him to find art materials that were gentler than oil paints and solvents on his respiratory system. He taught at both Dillard University in New Orleans and Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles.