Spiral Group

The establishment of the Spiral Group collective in 1963 marked a pioneering and ambitious shift in the relationship between art and social activism. Founded by a group of 15 African-American artists, the alliance coalesced in response to the Civil Rights Movement which was unfolding contemporaneously across the United States. Artists including Romare Bearden, Norman Lewis, Charles Alston and Hale Woodruff began to discuss the practical role of art in the fight for social justice, racial equality and inclusivity.

Though the group was disbanded after 2 years, its powerful commentaries on sociopolitical issues were articulated through a host of distinctly recognizable artistic styles. The Spiral artists began to experiment with visual abstraction to produce highly complex conceptual pieces: these were achieved through various disciplines, such as oil and watercolor painting, print, mixed media collages, and sculpture. Today, art produced by the Spiral Group can be recognized by its symbolic representations of African-American communities, deeply moving critiques of racial segregation, and varied use of artistic techniques.

In honor of the collective's unforgettable legacy, our experts have selected works which hark to the activism, autobiographical work, and artistic talent of the Spiral. Amongst our selection, you will find pieces by Faith Ringgold, Thandiwe Muriu, Paul Akiiki, and René Tavares.