Alvin C. Hollingsworth — Harmony (Women Series)
Alvin C. Hollingsworth — Harmony (Women Series)
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Original vintage 1978 Museum of African American Art edition from the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive.
Only 25 original impressions remain available.
Ships securely in a poster tube. Certificate of authenticity included.
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Why This Work Matters
Harmony (Women Series) presents Alvin C. Hollingsworth's distinctive approach to the human figure through an expansive composition of expressive line, layered color, and symbolic detail. A monumental woman rises above a richly orchestrated landscape while smaller figures, celestial forms, and architectural elements create a composition that rewards repeated viewing.
Issued by the Museum of African American Art, Los Angeles, in 1978—just two years after the institution's founding—this original vintage offset lithograph represents an important collaboration between one of America's most accomplished African American artists and one of the nation's pioneering museums dedicated to African American art.
Today, only 25 original impressions remain available from the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive, making this an increasingly rare opportunity to acquire an authentic museum-issued edition.
Provenance & Publication
Publication Period
1978
Copyright
© 1978 Museum of African American Art, Los Angeles, California
Produced by
Museum of African American Art, Los Angeles
Published under the authority
Issued by the Museum of African American Art, Los Angeles, in 1978.
Offered directly from the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive.
Source Archive
Original publishing archive and collection of Dr. Samella Lewis.
Founded by Dr. Samella Lewis and a group of academic, artistic, business, and community leaders in 1976, the Museum of African American Art was established to increase public awareness of and support for African American art. Published two years later, this vintage edition remains preserved within the original Samella Lewis Publishing Archive.
Published by Contemporary Crafts during the early 1970s, this vintage offset lithograph remains part of the original Samella Lewis Publishing Archive and represents an increasingly scarce example of Contemporary Crafts' historic collaborations with leading Black artists.
Publication History
Published in 1978, this original museum-issued offset lithograph reproduces Alvin C. Hollingsworth's Harmony (Women Series), an oil, acrylic, and ink collage identified in the printed caption beneath the image.
The work belongs to Hollingsworth's sustained exploration of the human figure through expressive form, symbolic imagery, and rhythmic composition. The towering central figure anchors an intricate visual narrative, demonstrating the balance of graphic precision and painterly sensitivity that distinguishes his mature work.
Issued during the Museum of African American Art's earliest years, this edition reflects Dr. Samella Lewis' commitment to publishing and preserving the work of significant African American artists for future generations.
With only 25 impressions remaining in the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive, this edition has become increasingly difficult to acquire.
About the Artist
Alvin C. Hollingsworth (1928–2000) was an American painter, illustrator, muralist, printmaker, educator, poet, and one of the first African American artists to build successful careers in both fine art and commercial illustration.
Beginning his professional career as a teenager, Hollingsworth became a prolific illustrator before establishing himself as a respected painter and educator. In 1963, he joined Spiral, the influential collective of African American artists that included Romare Bearden, Hale Woodruff, Norman Lewis, Charles Alston, Emma Amos, and other leading figures who explored the role of Black artists during the Civil Rights Movement.
Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, Hollingsworth developed a distinctive visual language characterized by expressive draftsmanship, dynamic composition, and a profound interest in the human figure. His work is represented in major museum collections across the United States and continues to receive renewed scholarly attention through exhibitions and publications recognizing his lasting contributions to American art.
About the Publisher
Founded in 1976 by Dr. Samella Lewis, the Museum of African American Art, Los Angeles, was created to increase public awareness, appreciation, and scholarship surrounding African American art and artists.
Through the museum and her publishing initiatives, Dr. Lewis championed generations of artists by producing exhibitions, books, and original print editions that helped preserve and expand the visibility of African American art.
Today, the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive continues this mission by offering original publications directly from the historic archive.
Product Details
Artist: Alvin C. Hollingsworth
Title: Harmony (Women Series)
Medium: Vintage offset lithograph reproducing an oil, acrylic, and ink collage
Publisher: Museum of African American Art, Los Angeles
Published: 1978
Dimensions: 17½ × 23 inches
Signature: Unsigned
Condition: Archive condition; may show minor signs of age consistent with vintage stored inventory.
Framing: Unframed
Documentation: Certificate of Authenticity included.
Availability
Offered directly from the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive.
Only 25 original impressions remain available for acquisition. As impressions enter museum, institutional, and private collections, the number remaining within the archive will continue to decline.
Availability is therefore limited to the remaining original impressions preserved within the archive.
Shipping & Care
Each impression is individually inspected before shipment and carefully packaged to museum standards.
Your print ships securely in a protective package and includes a Certificate of Authenticity issued by the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive.
Shipping timelines and return information are provided at checkout.