The Great American Epic

Jacob Lawrence’s complete 60-panel Migration Series (1940–1941), rarely seen in its entirety, is on view through October 26, 2008. Lawrence was just 23 when he created this masterpiece of narrative painting, which uses vivid patterns and colors to tell the story of the mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to cities in the North.

Although Lawrence was born in Atlantic City, both of his parents were from the South, and the migration in which they took part profoundly shaped his childhood. The exhibition takes an in-depth look at Lawrence’s powerful interpretation of this significant moment in American history and examines how the subject resonates today.

Soon after the series was exhibited at a New York art gallery in late 1941, The Phillips Collection purchased the odd numbered panels and the Museum of Modern Art acquired the 30 even numbered panels. This exhibition brings the series together in its original sequence, with short captions written by Jacob Lawrence.