David C. Driskell

David C. Driskell (American, 1931–2020), Current Forms: Yoruba Circle, 1969
Acrylic on canvas, 112.4 × 86.36 cm (44 1/4 × 34 in.), National Gallery of Art, Purchased with support from the Ford Foundation, 2022.1.1. © 2026 The Thelma Driskell Trust / Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY.

David Driskell reshaped the study and perception of African American art. While renowned as an artist, he also made significant contributions as a curator and scholar. Driskell advised on some of the most important exhibitions and extensive collections of African American art.

Driskell’s own mediums included painting, drawing, collage, and printmaking. His palettes were bold and vibrant, reflecting a modernist aesthetic. Driskell explored a range of genres and subjects, including portraits, landscapes, and abstraction. And his materials were versatile as well, ranging from egg tempera, oil paint, and acrylic paint to ink and marker.