SAN FRANCISCO — Emory Douglas developed his artistic voice in the thick of political artmaking. He first learned the fundamentals of commercial printing while serving a 15-month sentence at a juvenile correctional facility at age 13; later, he went on to serve as minister of culture for the Black Panther Party, designing the group’s newspaper and helping define its political image. For decades, Douglas has drawn on a deep understanding of printed matter’s power and a sharp awareness of oppressive power structures.
Today, the 83-year-old artist is the focus of the survey exhibition Emory Douglas: In Our Lifetime at San Francisco’s African American Art and Culture Complex. The show brings together paintings, prints, and political cartoons created over many years and in response to a range of issues. It underscores the argument that to be a contemporary artist is to stay politically engaged and continually react to the world at hand.
