Loïs Mailou Jones (November 3, 1905 – June 9, 1998) was a pioneering painter, designer, and educator whose career spanned nearly seven decades. Her richly varied work ranged from Impressionist landscapes and realistic portraits to bold compositions shaped by African and Caribbean art and culture. Bringing together these influences with her European training and African American experience, she developed a distinctive visual language that continued to evolve throughout her life.
Jones wanted to be remembered as an artist, not defined solely by her race or gender. Yet her achievements helped reshape the possibilities available to Black artists, particularly women, in the twentieth century. A professor at Howard University from 1930 to 1977, she mentored generations of artists while pursuing her own creative practice. Her influence extended beyond the United States through her travels, teaching, and enduring engagement with Africa and the Caribbean.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter honored her at the White House for her outstanding achievements in the arts.
Source:
http://www.loismailoujones.com/
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug01/westkaemper/callaloo/mailoujones.html
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/13/arts/lois-mailou-jones-92-painter-and-teacher.
