On Friday, June 27, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) will open two exhibitions of African American Art spanning two centuries. Spiritual Strivings: A Celebration of African American Works on Paper, features more than 90 pieces from the Kelley Collection and artist Eldzier Cortor. 

"PAFA has been exhibiting the work of African American artists since the 1830s. The opportunity to share these great masterworks on paper by 20th century African American artists with the Philadelphia public was made possible through the generous lending of the Kelley collection,"said Anna Marley, PAFA Curator of Historical American Art. 

"While many of the artists in this exhibition are well known, many of them are by lesser-known artists that we hope will be a joy for audiences to discover."

With more than 70 pieces, the Kelly Collection includes artwork from the 1800s to 2002 and consists of drawings, etchings, lithographs, watercolors, pastels, acrylics, gouaches, linoleum, and color screen prints. 

Harriet and Harmon Kelley began collecting artwork by African American artists in the 1980s after walking through an exhibition in San Antonio. They felt a sense of shame because they never heard of most of the artists, according to NY Times. "We really felt embarrassed," Harriet said. "It was like we had missed out on a whole part of our culture."

The Kelleys bought original works of art from artists, Edward Mitchell Bannister, Robert Scoot Duncanson, Aaron Douglas, Jacob Lawrence and others. You can view the rare collection in the Annenberg Galley of the Hamilton Building. 

On display in the Historic Landmark Building, is print-making materials by African American painter and printmaker Eldzier Cortor. The exhibition consists of 53 pieces including plates, test proofs, and prints from the 1950s through 2000s. 

Cortor's signature style included depictions of African American women which he commonly represented nude in paintings and prints. "She conveys a feeling of eternity," Cortor wrote in an exhibition catalog. "The continuance of life. The Black woman represents the Black race. She is the Black spirit." Cortor attended the Art Institute of Chicago in 1937, after receiving encouragement from his high school art teacher.