Visionary Painter Raymond Saunders Dies at 90

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Summary

  • Raymond Saunders, the influential painter whose assemblage-style works explored the expansivity of Black artists in the modern and contemporary art landscape, has died at 90.
  • The announcement comes just a week after the closing of Saunders’ first major museum retrospective in his hometown Carnegie Museum of Art.

Raymond Saunders, the renowned American artist recognized for his revolutionary methods in abstraction and assemblage, passed away at the age of 90. The news of his passing was confirmed in a joint statement issued by his representing galleries – Casemore, Andrew Kreps, and David Zwirner – earlier this week.

Saunders’ body of work is characterized by his reluctance to be labeled. By employing texture, symbolism, and various materials, he invites viewers to re-evaluate their preconceptions about Black identity and cultural manifestations. In his artworks that resemble assemblages, energetic brushwork coexists with vivid color fields, notational symbols, and found items, serving as a tool for questioning the intricate tapestry of American history.

As I mourn the loss of a fellow artist, it’s hard not to reflect on our shared past at the Carnegie Museum of Art, where we both honed our skills. The recent closure of his exhibit, “Flowers from a Black Garden,” was indeed bittersweet, as it marked the first major museum retrospective for this two-time National Endowment for the Arts Awards recipient. His talent will continue to inspire me, even though he’s no longer with us.

1934 saw the birth of Saunders in Pittsburgh. He then earned his BFA from Carnegie Institute of Technology. Later, he relocated to Oakland to obtain an MFA at the California College of Arts and Crafts, eventually becoming one of its professors.

Saunders’ work leaves a powerful impact, characterized by bold exploration, reinforcing the independence and vastness of Black artistic expression. In his 1967 essay titled “Black Is a Color,” he expressed: “I’m not here to cater to the audience; I am not accountable for anyone’s enjoyment. My duty is to be as authentic as possible, as both man and artist, while nurturing the hope that in this endeavor, some light, some love, some beauty might shine upon the world, and perhaps some injustices may be alleviated.

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2025-07-23 18:25