Elizabeth Catlett
Survivor, 1983
Woodcut, AP
11 x 10 in.
Courtesy of Dr. Samella Lewis

In 2007, Scripps launched the Samella Lewis Contemporary Art Collection in honor of Samella Lewis, artist, art historian, curator, editor and teacher at Scripps from 1969-1984. Known for her trailblazing art history, Dr. Lewis wrote the first textbook on African American art history, as well as monographs on leading artists Elizabeth Catlett and Richmond Barthé. The College’s goal is to acquire works by Dr. Lewis and other significant contemporary artists, with a special, though not exclusive, focus on art by women and by leading African American artists. For information, contact Kirk Delman, Collection Manager, at (909) 607-3397, or Crystal K. Jones, Senior Advancement Officer, at (909) 607-7531.

We thank the following donors for lead gifts to the collection:

  • The Yarema Family Trust: photographs by Anthony Friedkin, Eileen Cowin, Janet Delaney, George Hurrell, Robbert Flick, and Max Yavno; and a large mixed-media work by Susan Rankaitis.
  • Samella Lewis: a lithograph by Elizabeth Catlett and an Iris print by Dominique Moody
  • Alison Saar: a wood cut print and bronze sculpture by the artist
  • Jane Park Wells, ’93: two paintings by the artist
  • Mr. and Mrs. Grant Robbins, two drawings on mylar by Elizabeth Turk ’83.
  • Jean and Arthur Ames Fund: a glass ambrotype and a silver gelatin print on paper by Joyce Campbell; four works by Samella Lewis.
  • Joyce Campbell: an ambrotype, donated by the artist.
  • Francine Farr: works by Ken Ashston, Toufik Berramdane, John Biggers, Michael Chambers, Sue Coe, Floyd Coleman, Victor Ekpuk, Mor Gueye, Anton Haardt, Manuel Hughes, Ezekiel Madiba, Taiwo Olatunde, Adrian Piper, Alison Saar, and Ming Smith.
  • Akili Ron Anderson,Kiss, 1995, Offset lithograph, 22 x 30 in.
    Gift of the Brandywine Workshop in honor of and in celebration of Dr. Lewis’ lifetime of service to the field

    Monica Furmanski: three archival ink works on paper, donated by the artist;

  • Dorothy Goldeen: a painting by Stas Orlovski.
  • Stella and Harry Jones: a John T. Scott print of Samella Lewis.
  • Samella Lewis: works by William Anderson, Elizabeth Catlett, Dominique Moody, and Faith Ringgold.
  • Nancy Macko: a suite of three copperplate color prints, donated by the artist in honor of Cecilia Conrad.
  • Samella Lewis: Portfolio One, 15 works in a variety of media by artists such as David Driskell, Ben Jones, Evangeline Montgomery, Samella Lewis, Renee Stout, Shirley Woodson.
  • Brandywine Workshop and Archives: 30 works in a variety of media by artists such as Adger Cowans, John Biggers, Barbara Chase-Riboud and John T. Scott.
  • Susan Rankaitis: Samella AP, 2011, mixed media and John Outterbridge, One Sister With Four Brothers (2012).