Richard J. Powell, PhD

Richard J. Powell, PhD  (b.1953) is the John Spencer Bassett Professor of Art and Art History at Duke University, where he has taught since 1989. A prominent art historian and curator, Powell has made significant contributions to the study of African American art and culture. His scholarly work spans a range of topics, from primitivism to postmodernism, and includes notable publications such as *Homecoming: The Art and Life of William H. Johnson* (1991), “Black Art: A Cultural History” (1997, 2002), and *Cutting a Figure: Fashioning Black Portraiture*. Powell's academic journey began at Morehouse College, where he studied art and was influenced by key figures in the Black Arts Movement. At the time, Morehouse did not have a fine arts department, so he took courses at Spelman College and Clark College, which consolidated with Atlanta University in 1988 to become Clark Atlanta University. Notable mentors during this period included Lev Mills (1938-2021),  an Afro-pop/Black Arts Movement pioneer and Jenelsie Walden Holloway (1929-2009), who chaired the Spelman College Art Department and was a former student of renowned artists Hale Woodruff (1900–1980) and Nancy Elizabeth Prophet (1890–1960). He continued his graduate studies at Howard University and Yale and has made an indelible impression on academic, cultural, and artistic circles worldwide. Powell's writing and exhibitions have brought critical attention to the contributions of African American artists, enriching the discourse surrounding their impact on the broader art landscape. His dedication to education and scholarship continues to inspire new generations of artists and art historians. (HT)