While many envision the modern artist as solitary, David C. Driskell’s career tells a different story—one rooted in collaboration and community. As an artist, educator, curator, and historian, Driskell championed and elevated African American art, emphasizing the importance of both individual achievement and collective support.
Driskell’s collaborations—whether in workshops, dialogues, or shared creative endeavors—shaped his artistic vision and deepened his connections with other artists. He was instrumental in organizing solo exhibitions for artists such as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Alma W. Thomas, and Earl J. Hooks. He also played a key role in curating retrospectives for figures like Aaron Douglas and Claude Clark.
In 1976, Driskell organized Two Centuries of Black American Art for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a groundbreaking exhibition that traveled to Atlanta’s High Museum of Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Brooklyn Museum. The exhibition received widespread recognition, and its accompanying catalogue remains a key text for artists and scholars of African American art.
David C. Driskell & Friends celebrates Driskell’s generosity of spirit and the mutual support he shared with his friends and collaborators. Featuring over sixty works by prominent African American artists, many of whom were included in Two Centuries of Black American Art, it honors his legacy and the enduring bonds he cultivated throughout his life. We are proud to bring Driskell’s story back to Nashville, a city that played a central role in his journey.
