Dr. Samella Lewis is the first African American to earn a PHD in Fine Art and Art History. She is the founder of the MAAA, the Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles, CA.  The museum was founded in 1976 by noted artist and art historian Dr. Samella Lewis and a group of academic, artistic, business, and community leaders whose goal was to increase public awareness of African American art. The museum operates based on individual and corporate donations.

A few years ago I visited the Oakstop in Oakland, CA and I had the pleasure of speaking with art entrepreneur Trevor Parham about an upcoming art show I was interested in curating. During our discussion, I told him about my interests in creating published material about art. He told me about his involvement with publications written by Samella Lewis, the first African American to earn a PHD in Fine Art and Art History, in creating published works about African American artists.

She is my inspiration and one of many people who motivates me.

 Images are not my own.