Instill and Inspire: The John and Vivien Hewitt Collection of African-American Art

The exhibit INSTILL & INSPIRE currently on display at the August Wilson Center in Pittsburgh, contains works by some of the most highly regarded African-American artists of the 20th century. INSTILL & INSPIRE tells the fascinating story of how John and Vivian Hewitt formed an outstanding collection of works by African American artists between the late 1940s and the 1980s. Starting with a purchase in 1949 using money given them for their wedding, the Hewitts acquired paintings, drawings, collages, lithographs, and other works by nearly two dozen artists. Some artists in the collection, such as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, and Henry Ossawa Tanner, will be well-known to visitors; others will be a revelation. Together, this collection of 58 works vividly brings the African American experience to life. August Wilson Center 980 Liberty Ave Pittsburgh PA 15222 trustarts.org