charles alston

Charles Alston (November 28, 1907 - April 27, 1977) was an African American teacher and artist. His 1934 "Girl in a Red Dress" uses such a vibrant red it reminds one of the Fauvists redux. Alston attended Columbia College and Teachers College at Columbia University. He began his career while still a student, illustrating covers for jazz musician Duke Ellington and poet Langston Hughes. Influenced by Diego Rivera and others, he painted murals throughout Harlem, often incorporating features of African art. During the Great Depression, he directed the Harlem Art Workshop and was mentor to Jacob Lawrence, among others. Alston was the first African-American instructor at the Arts Students' League (1950-1971) and the Museum of Modern Art (1956). He became a full professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) in 1973.