For work that spans portraiture, oil painting and bronze sculpture, the Canadian artist Artis Lane draws from the spiritual and emotional aspects of human existence. Lane is a trailblazer: She was the first Black woman to be admitted to Cranbrook Academy of Art — a legendary institution within art, design and architecture — and her bronze bust of Sojourner Truth was the first statue of an African-American woman in the United States Capitol.
Lane was born in North Buxton, Ontario, in a town predominantly inhabited by the descendants of slaves who arrived in Canada by way of the Underground Railroad. As her artistic career developed, so did her interest in people of African descent as well as her ideas about the physical world and our bodies being vessels, capable of eventually taking on godly characteristics.
“Lane promotes the primacy of corporeal experience with sculptures that speak to Africa as the beginning of human life,” noted the University of Oklahoma’s Journal of Museum Studies in 2008. Her unique approach to depicting the journey between the physical and spiritual worlds has been to work outside the constraints of the traditional bronze finishing process, leaving the ceramic casing, wire and tubing used to cast it intact as part of the finished piece, whereby the wire is symbolic of bondage to the physical form.
Lane attended what was then called the Ontario College of Art (today, it’s the Ontario College of Art and Design University) on the Edith Chapman scholarship before studying painting at Cranbrook. She took an active role in the artistic communities in the various cities she lived in over the years. In New York and Los Angeles, she befriended actors Cary Grant and Diahann Carroll, and in Detroit, she painted commissioned portraits of auto industry executives to pay the bills. She would go on to paint portraits of many esteemed figures such as President John F. Kennedy, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jordan and Aretha Franklin. Today, a sculpture Lane created of Rosa Parks is on display at the National Portrait Gallery.
Lane received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the California African American Museum and an honorary degree from her alma mater, Cranbrook Academy of Art.
Find a collection of Artis Lane art on 1stDibs.
Price Upon Request
"Jesse Owens - Long Jump Medalist", Mixed Media on Paper
By Artis Lane
Located in Detroit, MI
This mixed media on paper painting of Jesse Owens is from the seminal artist Artis Lane and is one of the many exquisite pieces done of historical figures ...
Paper, Mixed Media
Price Upon Request
"Ancient Man", Mixed Media on Paper
By Artis Lane
Located in Detroit, MI
This mixed media on paper from the seminal artist Artis Lane is one of the many model pictures from her long and illustrious career. The subject is an older man, whom is called "Anci...
Paper, Mixed Media
Price Upon Request
"Self Portrait" Frontal Female, Mixed Media on Paper, Subtle Colors
By Artis Lane
Located in Detroit, MI
"Self-Portrait" is a stunning mixed media piece showing the vibrancy of the figure through the use of bold lines and placement of the blue and orange colors. The figure appears to be...
Paper, Mixed Media
Price Upon Request
"Surreal Study" Male and Female Figures on a Branch, Colors, Mixed Media
By Artis Lane
Located in Detroit, MI
"Surreal Study: Male and Female Figures on a Branch" is a complex piece with figures both facing toward and away from the viewer sitting on a branch in a mammoth tree or a fallen tre...
Paper, Mixed Media
$3,375
H 17 in W 21 in D 1 in
Umbrella Man Mixed Media Drawing, Watercolor on Paper, Signed, 17x21 in Framed
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original mixed media drawing with watercolor on paper. Hand signed by Peter Max. Frame size approx 17 x 21 inches. Artwork size 11 x 15 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition....
Paper, Mixed Media, Watercolor
$635
H 28 in W 20 in
Valentines Night - Original Romantic Playful Still Life Collage Artwork on Paper
By Maria C. Bernhardsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
$12,500
H 23 in W 18 in
Ann Miller in Follies Broadway Musical Contemporary Drawing Illustration Eloise
Located in New York, NY
Ann Miller in Follies Broadway Musical Contemporary Drawing Illustration Eloise Ann Miller in Stephen Sondheim's "Follies." The 1998 production, played at the Papermill Playhouse. Affixed to the back of the drawing is a brochure promoting the show. Mixed media on paper. Signed lower left. Inscribed lower right: "Ann Miller at 75 'I'm Still Here' in Stephen Sondheim's 'Follies' 1998." Framed. 17 x 12 in. (sight). 22 1/2 x 17 1/2 in. (frame) 'Tops in Taps' Ann Miller was still going strong at 75 years old when she made her last appearance in the musical, "Follies." She was one of M.G.M's most prolific dancers and considered by many to be the greatest female tap dancer of all time. Hilary, a friend of many years, is still going strong at 96. We saw this production at the Papermill Playhouse. Years ago, I was a press agent working in Henry Luhrman's office where we represented "Sugar Babies" with Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney. Bio Hilary Knight (born November 1, 1926) is an American writer-artist who is the illustrator of more than 50 books and the author of nine books. He is best known as the illustrator of Kay Thompson's Eloise (1955) and others in the Eloise series. Knight has illustrated for a wide variety of clients, creating artwork for magazines, children's fashion advertisements, greeting cards, record albums and posters for Broadway musicals, including Gypsy, Irene, Half A Sixpence, Hallelujah Baby! and No, No Nanette. The son of artist-writers Clayton Knight...
Paper, Mixed Media
$455
H 24 in W 18 in
Bomber Babe (1/2) - Colorful Figurative Cowgirl Pin-up Inspired Artwork on Paper
By Jesse Black
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jesse’s imagery often merges playful and gritty elements, blending floral patterns, vintage-inspired designs, and bold outlines with a touch of whimsy. His artwork exudes a sense of ...
Paint, Paper, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Other Medium
$635
H 28 in W 20 in
Twin Trees at Sunrise - Architectural Colorful Still Life Mixed Media Collage
By Maria C. Bernhardsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
$20,000
H 36 in W 48 in D 1.5 in
"Big Rubber” - Mixed Media Porsche Car Artwork Collaboration with Patrick Long
By Gabrielle Benot
Located in Carmel, CA
Gabrielle Benot (Latvian, born 1978) "Big Rubber" 2024 Acrylic paint, Rice paper, Resin, Mixed Media, Canvas, Stretcher bars The artist signed the bottom right of the painting. "Big...
Canvas, Resin, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Rice Paper, Stretcher Bars
$405
H 24 in W 18 in
Cowboy Cat - Whimsical Colorful Figurative Western Animal Painting on Paper
By Jesse Black
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jesse’s imagery often merges playful and gritty elements, blending floral patterns, vintage-inspired designs, and bold outlines with a touch of whimsy. His artwork exudes a sense of ...
Paint, Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Other Medium, Permanent Marker
$3,365
H 27.96 in W 22.05 in D 0.04 in
Nude of Woman - Mixed Media on Plywood by Achille Funi - Mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Woman nude is a modern artwork realized by Achille Funi in the early 20th Century. Mixed media on plywood. Hand signed on the lower margin. Includes frame.
Paper, Mixed Media, Plywood
$455
H 24 in W 18 in
Wild West Dream - Colorful Playful Figurative Cowgirl Horse Mixed Media on Paper
By Jesse Black
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jesse’s imagery often merges playful and gritty elements, blending floral patterns, vintage-inspired designs, and bold outlines with a touch of whimsy. His artwork exudes a sense of ...
Paper, Mixed Media, Oil Pastel
$499
H 18 in W 24 in
Lover 5 - Original Pink Figurative Cowgirl Pop Art Painting on Paper
By Jesse Black
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jesse’s imagery often merges playful and gritty elements, blending floral patterns, vintage-inspired designs, and bold outlines with a touch of whimsy. His artwork exudes a sense of ...
Paint, Paper, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Other Medium
$499
H 18 in W 24 in
Lover 14 - Pink Figurative Cowgirl Cupid Love Inspired Artwork on Paper
By Jesse Black
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jesse’s imagery often merges playful and gritty elements, blending floral patterns, vintage-inspired designs, and bold outlines with a touch of whimsy. His artwork exudes a sense of ...
Paint, Paper, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Other Medium
$635
H 28 in W 20 in
Sunrise - Original Cool Tone Abstract Urban Still Life Collage Artwork on Paper
By Maria C. Bernhardsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C. Bernhardsson is a colorful artist who lives and paints in Sweden. Most of her works are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Bernhardsson travels the world...
Paper, Mixed Media
Sold
H 30.5 in W 25.5 in
"Seated Man on Motorcycle" Mixed Media, Abstract, Duo-Toned, Nude, Primitive
By Artis Lane
Located in Detroit, MI
"Seated Man on Motorcycle" is an abstract study of a figure at ease on a motorcycle. By limiting the work to white paint on black paper, the images blend into one combined force of s...
Paper, Mixed Media