The Museum of African American Art Information

The Museum of African American Art was founded in 1976 by noted artist and art historian Dr. Samella Lewis and a group of academic, artistic, business, and community leaders whose goal was to increase public awareness of African American art. The museum operates based on individual and corporate donations; the generous support of Macy's, which donates space inside its Baldwin HillsCrenshaw Plaza store; gift shop proceeds; event rentals to other nonprofits; and a growing membership. MAAA is also sustained by the dedication and enthusiasm of its Board ofDirectors, staff, and volunteers. The Palmer C. Hayden Collection is a central part of the permanent collection at MAAA, giving the public insight into the life and work of one of the leading artists of the Harlem Renaissance. The permanent collection at MAAA includes works from the United States as well as paintings, masks, batiks, carvings, and ceremonial objects from Africa, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and South America. The Museum of African American Art is a nonprofit cultural and educational institution dedicated to the interpretation, promotion, and preservation of art by or about people of African descent and their contributions to world culture. Exhibits and programs at the museum allow artists and their art to inspire new thinking about issues that intersect with the shared experiences of people throughout the African diaspora and beyond. MAAA proudly serves as an exhibit venue for emerging and world-renowned artists, a community event space, and a field trip destination for students from local schools.