Earl Beauford Miller was a distinguished African American artist known for his work in painting, printmaking, and collage. Born in Chicago, he pursued formal training at several respected institutions, including Roosevelt College, the Illinois Institute of Technology, Pratt Institute, the Art Students League, and the Brooklyn Museum Art School. He also studied in Germany at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste, where exposure to European modernist movements shaped his artistic outlook.
In the early 1960s, Miller became affiliated with the Spiral Group, a collective of prominent Black artists such as Romare Bearden and Norman Lewis. This group sought to explore how Black artists could respond to the Civil Rights Movement through visual expression. Miller’s work during this time was deeply rooted in themes of social justice and identity, expressed through vibrant color, abstraction, and layered compositions.
His career was marked by both national and international recognition, with exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. He also took part in the 1964 Copenhagen show “Ten American Negro Artists Living and Working in Europe,” a testament to his global reach.
In addition to his studio practice, Miller taught at the University of Washington from 1969 onward, where he mentored young artists and continued to shape the field. His work stands out for its fusion of modernist aesthetics with African American cultural and political themes, securing his place in 20th-century American art history.
In African Flyer, Miller employs a dynamic interplay of geometric shapes and vibrant colors, creating a composition that suggests motion and energy. The layered materials and textured surfaces invite viewers to explore the tactile qualities of the piece, while the abstract forms may evoke associations with themes of flight, freedom, and the African American experience. The title itself could be interpreted as a metaphor for aspiration and transcendence, reflecting the artist's exploration of cultural identity and personal expression. African Flyer’s companion piece American Flyer was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1969.
The Museum of Modern Art Lending Services, New York, with the label on the verso
Private collection, Massachusetts.
Swann Auction Galleries, New York, 22 April 2021
Cederholm, Theresa Dickason, Afro-American Artists, 1973