Digital cover of the Harlem Stones Collection!

Medium: Oil on Canvas

16” x 20”

2024

Langston Hughes, poet & writer, was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, the cultural movement during the 1920s and 1930s that celebrated Black culture, art, literature, and intellectual life in Harlem, New York. Hughes is celebrated as one of the most influential voices of the movement due to his unique approach to poetry, which captured the everyday lives, dreams, struggles, and aspirations of Black Americans.

Hughes’ work often incorporated the rhythms of jazz, blues, and African American vernacular, making his poetry accessible and resonant for a broad audience. Through works like The Weary Blues and Montage of a Dream Deferred, he highlighted both the joys and pains of Black life in America, tackling themes of racial pride, identity, social justice, and resilience. His style blended high art with folk culture, making him a bridge between traditional literary forms and Black oral traditions.

Hughes was also important because he used his platform to champion equality and criticize racial discrimination. His influence extended beyond poetry into essays, plays, and novels, shaping the identity and vision of the Harlem Renaissance and continuing to inspire subsequent generations.

One of the five prominent stones classifying one of the liberal arts: Literature.

Medium: Oil on Canvas

16” x 20”

2024

Zelda Wynn Valdes was a pioneering African American fashion designer and costume designer whose work celebrated the beauty and sophistication of Black women, breaking barriers in the fashion industry. Although her career fully blossomed in the 1940s and beyond, her influence was deeply rooted in the Harlem Renaissance’s focus on Black cultural pride and creative expression. Valdes was among the first to open a Black-owned business on Broadway in New York, establishing her high-end boutique, “Chez Zelda,” in 1948, where she dressed stars like Ella Fitzgerald, Josephine Baker, and Eartha Kitt.

Valdes’s importance lies in how she redefined fashion for Black women, designing glamorous, form-fitting gowns that emphasized their beauty at a time when mainstream fashion often ignored or stereotyped them. Her designs became iconic, notably inspiring the original Playboy Bunny costume, which she designed for Hugh Hefner in the 1960s. Through her work with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she created costumes for over two decades, Valdes also expanded Black representation in ballet, giving dancers costumes that were rich, elegant, and inspired by Black aesthetics. Her work embodied the Harlem Renaissance’s vision of Black excellence, self-expression, and empowerment, paving the way for future generations in fashion and the arts.

One of the five prominent stones classifying one of the liberal arts: Fashion.

Medium: Oil on Canvas

16” x 20”

2024

Jacob Lawrence was a groundbreaking painter whose work captured the history, struggles, and vibrancy of Black life in America. Though he began his career in the late 1930s, toward the end of the Harlem Renaissance, his work was profoundly influenced by the movement’s ideals and became a vital extension of its legacy. Lawrence was known for his bold, colorful, and narrative style, often using flat, bright colors and simplified shapes to depict complex social and historical themes. His most famous series, The Migration Series, tells the story of the Great Migration, where millions of Black Americans moved from the rural South to the urban North seeking better opportunities and escaping racial discrimination.

Lawrence’s importance lies in how he used art to document and preserve Black history. His paintings often told stories of resilience, community, and social justice, serving as visual history lessons that highlighted the richness of Black culture and the realities of Black life in America. Lawrence’s unique perspective and style broke away from traditional Western art forms, creating a distinctive visual language that resonated with both Black and white audiences. His work extended the Renaissance’s goal of celebrating Black identity and addressing social issues, making him a significant figure in American art and an enduring influence on generations of artists.

One of the five prominent stones classifying one of the liberal arts: Visual Arts.

Medium: Oil on Cardboard

18” x 24”

2024

Ella Fitzgerald, though a bit younger than many central Harlem Renaissance figures, is closely associated with the legacy of that era and helped carry its spirit into jazz and popular music. Known as the “First Lady of Song,” Fitzgerald became one of the most influential jazz vocalists in history, celebrated for her pure tone, impeccable diction, and extraordinary scat singing ability. Her career began in the mid-1930s after she won a talent contest at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, which marked the start of her rise in the jazz and swing scenes.

Fitzgerald was important because she brought jazz music to a wider audience, bridging racial divides and elevating the art form with her technical skill and emotional expression. Her work and collaborations with iconic musicians like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong helped solidify jazz as a defining genre of American music. By breaking into mainstream success, Fitzgerald opened doors for Black artists in an industry that was still highly segregated, influencing generations of musicians and helping to sustain the Harlem Renaissance’s impact on American culture. Her success reflected the Renaissance’s goals of racial pride, artistic achievement, and the breakdown of cultural barriers.

One of the five prominent stones classifying one of the liberal arts: Music.

Medium: Oil on Canvas

16” x 20”

2024

Alain Leroy Locke, often called the “Father of the Harlem Renaissance,” was a philosopher, writer, and educator who played a crucial role in shaping the intellectual foundation of the movement. He was the first African American Rhodes Scholar and held a Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard, making him an influential thinker of his time. His most impactful work was his anthology, The New Negro (1925), which served as a manifesto for the Harlem Renaissance. This collection of essays, poetry, and fiction brought together emerging Black voices in literature, art, and social thought.

Locke believed in the power of art as a vehicle for social change and racial pride. He encouraged Black artists, writers, and musicians to embrace their heritage and express their unique identities through their work. Locke’s advocacy for the “New Negro” emphasized self-confidence, intellectual achievement, and cultural pride, helping to break down stereotypes and redefine Black identity in America. His vision inspired artists and writers to use their talents to challenge racial oppression, foster pride, and reshape public perception, making him a foundational figure in the Harlem Renaissance.

One of the five prominent stones classifying one of the liberal arts: Philosophy