Curatorial Rationale: Floyd Coleman Artist, Scholar, Visionary of Black Modernism

Curatorial Rationale: Floyd Coleman Artist, Scholar, Visionary of Black Modernism

Floyd Coleman (1939–2018) holds a pivotal place in the development of African American modernism and the broader canon of American abstraction. As an artist, scholar, and educator, his contributions transcend formal aesthetics to engage with the intellectual and cultural movements shaping Black visual culture throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries.

Coleman’s work is characterized by a deep engagement with African diasporic symbolism, layered abstraction, and a philosophical commitment to cultural memory. His paintings and drawings often weave color, rhythm, and form into compositions that echo jazz, spirituality, and African iconography—making his oeuvre both introspective and cosmically resonant.

The inclusion of Floyd Coleman in our collection addresses a critical gap. While his works have been acquired by institutions such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum and featured in major exhibitions, his legacy remains under-recognized in proportion to his influence. Coleman’s dual role as an artist and art historian—he helped found the Department of Art at Howard University and authored foundational scholarship on Black aesthetics—makes his work uniquely valuable for interpretation, education, and dialogue across disciplines.

Acquiring Coleman’s work supports our commitment to elevating voices central to the intellectual and aesthetic development of African American art. It enriches our holdings in abstraction, expands our narrative of Black modernism, and provides a vital resource for curators, scholars, and the public seeking to understand the full scope of American art history.

Acquisition Dossier 

Floyd Coleman (1939–2018)
Market Data Supporting Acquisition

Auction Performance

• Floyd Coleman’s COLEMAN, 1968 sold through Heritage Auctions in 2014.
  
  

• Though auction records are limited, sales demonstrate early market awareness.
  
  

• Coleman’s undervalued market presents a strategic opportunity for early institutional repositioning.
  
  

Institutional Holdings & Exhibitions
Coleman’s work is currently held in several major collections:

• Smithsonian American Art Museum
  
  

• Howard University
  
  

• Boise Art Museum
  
  

• University of Michigan Museum of Art
  
  

Notably, his work is featured in Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Art Collection

• Venue: Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville, FL
  
  

• Dates: February 4 – July 6, 2025
  
  

Exhibition and Scholarly Activity

• Floyd Coleman has been included in group exhibitions examining African American abstraction and the Black Arts Movement.
  
  

• As an educator and scholar, Coleman helped shape the study of African American art history, enhancing the interpretive and educational value of his artwork.
  
  

Valuation and Market Outlook

• Coleman’s dual legacy as a practitioner and intellectual positions him for a significant market reevaluation.
  
  

• Institutions are increasingly seeking to acquire work by artists who were overlooked during their peak periods but are now recognized as foundational voices.
  
  

• Acquisition now offers the benefit of cultural stewardship alongside financial foresight.
  
  

Collector and Institutional Relevance
This acquisition is ideal for:

• Collections focused on postwar and contemporary African American abstraction
  
  

• Institutions aligned with educational programming and scholarship
  
  

• Foundations seeking to represent intellectual and artistic contributions of historically significant Black artists
  
  

"Untitled Abstract" by Floyd Coleman

38 x 48 1/4 inches, oil painting on canvas, original, 1967 - Collect this work

Floyd Coleman (1939–2018)
Artist, Scholar, Visionary of Black Modernism

Floyd Coleman was a pioneering figure in African American art, known for his dynamic abstractions, deep intellectual rigor, and lifelong commitment to advancing Black visual culture. Born in 1939 in Birmingham, Alabama, Coleman earned his MFA from the University of Chicago and became a central voice in both the creative and academic study of African American art.

Coleman’s work is distinguished by its spiritual energy, rhythmic abstraction, and symbolism rooted in African and diasporic traditions. His paintings and drawings reflect a commitment to Black aesthetics, jazz-inflected visual language, and cultural memory. As a leading educator, he founded the Department of Art at Howard University and mentored generations of artists and scholars.

In addition to his studio practice, Coleman was a prolific writer and lecturer whose scholarship helped define the intellectual frameworks of Black modernism and the Black Arts Movement. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Howard University, the Boise Art Museum, and the University of Michigan Museum of Art.

Coleman’s legacy continues to influence contemporary dialogues around abstraction, identity, and the role of art in the African American experience. His art remains a testament to the power of visual expression as both personal vision and cultural affirmation.