David C. Driskell at the University House
Artist:
Preston Sampson
Title:
Legacy
Date:
1999
Description:
"Legacy" by Preston Sampson depicts three men, one of whom appears over the shoulders of the other two, seated, men. The men are wearing semiformal attire, with jackets and ties. Given the title of the piece, it is possible these men are related and perhaps intergenerational, giving the impression of a family portrait. The loose brushstrokes and vibrant colors reflect Sampson's love of jazz, as he wishes his work "to emote, to touch, to move you to the center of it all, to enable you to feel certain changes, like fleeting moments of memory" (taken from the artist's website).

"Legacy" is hung in one of the University House's upstairs rooms.

A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., Sampson traveled to the University of Maryland, College Park to earn his MFA. In his work, he seeks to memorialize the glory of African Americans' lives and achievements as they might be seen in historical narratives that have routinely omitted them. He is perhaps best known for his series of African American baseball players. The Center owns sixteen works by Preston, including prints, acrylic paintings, and his unique pulp paintings. Preston worked at the David C. Driskell studio while a student at the University of Maryland, College Park. His work will be included in the exhibition "Driskell's Students", organized by the David C. Driskell Center for the spring of 2021.
Technique:
Acrylic Paint
Credit Line:
Gift from Jean and Robert E. Steele Collection
Legal Status:
Copyrights:
© Preston and Tina Sampson, 2017

Photography by Greg Staley, 2017.
Object ID:
2017.08.027
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