Table of Contents
Laura Wheeler Waring also known as Laura W. Waring was an African-American artist and art educator during the Harlem Renaissance. She was best known for her portraits of many well-known figures from the civil rights movement.
Childhood
Laura W. Waring was born on May 17, 1887 in Hartford, Connecticut to a pastor at a historic African-American Church. Her mother was a teacher and amateur artist. Wheeler began drawing at a very young age and showed interest in art. By her parents’ encouragement, Wheeler left home to pursue her interest in art.
Higher Studies and Career
Wheeler studied at Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. She also worked as a part time instructor in art and music at the Cheyney University. In 1914, she was awarded the coveted Cresson Scholarship for her originality and mastery in technique. This allowed her to travel to west Europe and study works of old masters. In addition to that, she also managed to visit many museums in France and England. This was Waring’s first milestone.
127 our experts are availableright now
After her return, Waring resumed working at Cheyney where she was invited to head the art and music department. She took summer classes at the Harvard University to learn how to best instruct her students. For the second time, Wheeler got to travel overseas to Paris where she was able to study at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere.
Harlem Renaissance
Wheeler became a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She drew illustrations and ink drawings for “The Crisis” magazine and “The Brownies’ book”. She worked with many activists during the Harlem Renaissance. She also painted portraits of many notable figures in the fight for civil rights. Although she enjoyed taking part in the Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights movement, her teaching commitments kept her from going deep into these issues.
Wheeler’s Art Gains Recognition
Laura’s artwork mostly included landscapes, still lives and portraiture. In the late 1920’s her art was recognized by an organization create to acknowledge the achievements of African-Americans in the US. Several of her portraits were exhibited at the Harmon foundation Exhibit. Some of her most famous pieces include: “Anne Washington Derry (1927)”, and “Marian Anderson”.
Legacy
Due to natural causes Laura Wheeler Waring died at the age of 60 in Philadelphia on February 3, 1948. Her work has fought stereotypes and is evidence of the accomplishments of African-Americans in the United States. Wheeler had done everything she could to take us one step closer to the civil rights. Today, her artworks still live on in the National Portrait Gallery’s collection.
Bibliography
- Laura Wheeler Waring Biography, Biography.com Editors, https://www.biography.com/people/laura-wheeler-waring-38504, February 16, 2019
- Laura Wheeler Waring.’ Notable Black American Women, Gale, 1992. Biography In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1623000467/BIC?u=j079907013&sid=BIC&xid=3d63dcb6. Accessed 17 Feb. 2019.
