09/16/2026 General, Modern & Contemporary Art, General Paintings
NEW YORK, NY -- Ernest Crichlow (1914–2005) was a central figure in 20th century African American art, whose work evolved from the social realism of the Depression era to a broader exploration of Black American life. Born in Brooklyn to Barbadian parents, Crichlow studied commercial art in Manhattan and during the Depression worked with the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project. He became part of a generation of Black artists that included Romare Bearden, Norman Lewis and Jacob Lawrence, with whom he maintained longstanding relationships. His early work addressed the social realities of African American life, while his later paintings increasingly explored family, community, identity and everyday experience.
Crichlow was also a dedicated advocate for other artists. In 1969, he joined Bearden and Lewis in founding the Cinque Gallery in Manhattan, which provided exhibition opportunities for emerging African American artists. Working across painting, printmaking and illustration, Crichlow developed a figurative language grounded in observation and expressive line and color. His work reflects a sustained engagement with Black American life, balancing social commentary with a deeply human interest in his subjects.
Auction Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 11am
Exhibition September 26–28
Featured in the September 30 sale are five works by Ernest Crichlow from the collection of the artist, and a drawing by Charles White.
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