This is Black History Month.
Sam Houston State University graduate Jess Coleman teaches a number of art courses as an instructor at Prairie View A&M University, including African American Art History. The award-winning African-American artist recently added another project to his remarkable resume and entrenched himself as a significant contributor to this storied history.
Last year, Coleman was commissioned to create a portrait of Texas civil rights activist Opal Lee, who led the push to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Earlier this month, the 96-year-old’s likeness became just the second portrait depicting a Black person to hang in the senate chamber of the state capitol building.
On Feb. 8, the portrait was officially unveiled in a ceremony at the capitol building. Lee was all smiles when she saw Coleman’s painting and expressed her love for it.
