In Our Lifetime: Paintings from the Pandemic by Kadir Nelson

Final Days: Closing November 2

June 11 through November 2, 2022

“I’ve always loved creating a narrative with my work, and as we all lived through the pandemic as it gained momentum, each painting I created began to tell a visual story, historical documents on canvases that chronicled the emotional, political, and social pulse of the world in real time as we all lived through it.” —Kadir Nelson

As accomplished award-winning illustrator, painter, and author, Kadir Nelson is one of the most celebrated visual commentators of our time. His monumental, humanistic artworks appear on the covers and pages of popular magazines and books, and on posters, postage stamps and album covers, inspired by life’s large and small moments, by the complexities of American history, and by the African American experience, which he shares prominently and with dignity in his art.

Kadir Nelson - After the Storm

Kadir Nelson
After the Storm, 2020
33 ¼ x 46 inches
Oil on linen
Collection of the artist and THE JKBN GROUP. © 2020 Kadir Nelson

Always prolific, Nelson is ever observant of the world around him. The exceptional suite of paintings in In Our Lifetime, exhibited together for the first time, traces the artist’s experience of the global COVID-19 pandemic while bearing witness to world events as they unfolded. In painting and publishing his work, particularly at such an unprecedented time, Nelson gave voice to uncertainty, anger, and fear, but also to the joy of human existence and connectivity, which is deeply felt in his work. “We didn’t know what the outcome would be or how to through it. It was day by day,” said Nelson, whose art sustained him and became an important touchpoint for many.

As a frequent cover artist for The New Yorker for over a decade, Nelson was selected by the magazine in 2020, to create arresting imagery to document the turbulent year as the world faced both a global pandemic and critical social and political movements. The resulting painting, Say Their Names, was an unflinching commemorative illustration of George Floyd and historical victims of racial violence and discrimination. Honoring grassroots activism and the Black Lives Matter movement, Nelson created American Uprising, a modern interpretation of Gerome Delacroix’s masterpiece, Liberty Leading the People, for the cover of Rolling Stone.

Nelson’s In Our Lifetime paintings capture such wide-ranging themes as childhood and the hope for a positive future, the need for interpersonal connectivity, the contributions of trailblazers, the importance of raising one’s voice, and the racial injustices that continue to plague society. Drawing inspiration from his artistic antecedents including Michelangelo, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Eugène Delacroix, Gustave Klimt, Egon Schiele, Henry Osawa Tanner, Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, Ernie Barnes, Thomas Blackshear, and Norman Rockwell, he is a creator of contemporary classics that portray the American scene with empathy, warmth, and authenticity.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Kadir Nelson (b. 1974) is an award-winning American author and artist based in Los Angeles, California. Upon earning a BFA from Pratt Institute, Nelson was selected by DreamWorks Pictures to create conceptual artwork to inspire the visuals for Steven Spielberg’s Oscar® nominated feature, Amistad and the animated feature, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

In addition to his cover illustrations for The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, and National Geographic, among others, Nelson has illustrated over 30 picture books, including The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander, winner of the prestigious Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award in 2020; We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, a New York Times Best-Seller; and Henry’s Freedom Box, which received a Caldecott Honor. He has designed album covers for Michael Jackson and Drake, and more than a dozen United States postage stamps honoring American legends Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Wilt Chamberlain, Marvin Gaye, and others.

His salient original paintings reside in the permanent collections of several notable institutions including the United States House of Representatives, the Muskegon Museum of Art, The National Baseball Hall of Fame, United States Postal Museum, the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, and most recently, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the World Trade Center, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, among others.

Nelson is the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators in New York, a Gold Cube and Freelancer of the Year Award from The Art Directors Club, multiple Caldecott Honors, Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Awards, New York Times Best Illustrated Books Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Communication Arts Awards of Excellence, and an Olympic Art Bronze Medal, among others.

Visit KadirNelson.com for additional information.

Nelson is the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators in New York, a Gold Cube and Freelancer of the Year Award from The Art Directors Club, multiple Caldecott Honors, Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Awards, New York Times Best Illustrated Books Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Communication Arts Awards of Excellence, and an Olympic Art Bronze Medal, among others.

For over a decade, Nelson’s striking artwork has frequently graced the cover of The New Yorker magazine, paying tribute to historical figures, New York City, and American life. In 2020, Nelson was tapped by the magazine to create arresting imagery to document the turbulent year as the world faced both a global pandemic and critical social and political movements with his masterful painting, Say Their Names, a commemorative painting of George Floyd and historical victims of racial violence and discrimination – what Adweek coveted the “Hottest Magazine Cover of the Year”. For the July cover issue of Rolling Stone, Nelson also commemorated grassroots activism and the Black Lives Matter movement with, American Uprising, a modern spin on Gerome Delacroix’s masterpiece, Liberty Leading the People. And, to commemorate season 7 of ABC’s hit television sitcom Black-ish, Nelson was commissioned to paint the key art entitled, Blackish Tea, a classy and humorous commentary to cap off the year.

Additionally, Nelson has also authored and illustrated several award-winning New York Times Best Selling picture books including, WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball, which was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, and Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans. Currently, he has over 30 children’s book titles in print with a global circulation in the millions, and in multiple languages. Nelson’s list of illustrated children’s books include titles by Debbie Allen, Will Smith, Spike and Tonya Lee, and Delores Jordan, mother of NBA great Michael Jordan. In 2020, Nelson was awarded the coveted Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for the masterful book, THE UNDEFEATED, written by Kwame Alexander.

Nelson’s primarily figurative paintings and sculptures focus on historical narratives and heroic subjects in American culture and are often informed by the Old Masters like Ingres, Michelangelo, Hopper, and Tanner. His sumptuous settings and characters, rich palette, and realistic, yet painterly technique speaks to both modern urban realism and masterly works of turn-of-the century American painters.

IMAGES

Kadir Nelson - Sweet Liberty

Kadir Nelson
Sweet Liberty, 2020
Illustration for The New Yorker, November 23, 2020
Oil on linen
24 x 30 inches
Collection of the artist and THE JKBN GROUP. © 2020 Kadir Nelson

Kadir Nelson - Blackish Tea

Kadir Nelson
Blackish Tea, 2020
Illustration for ABC
Oil on linen
70 x 70 inches
Collection of the artist and THE JKBN GROUP. © 2020 Kadir Nelson

Kadir Nelson - Say Their Names

Kadir Nelson
Say Their Names, 2020
Cover illustration for The New Yorker, June 22, 2020
Oil on linen
36 x 48 inches
Collection of the artist and THE JKBN GROUP. © 2020 Kadir Nelson

Emory Douglas - Martin Luther King, Jr, 1993

ALSO ON VIEW:
Concurrent to the In Our Lifetime exhibition, Imprinted: Illustrating Race will be on view from June 11 – October 30, 2022. Imprinted: Illustrating Race examines the role of published images in shaping attitudes toward race and culture. Over 300 artworks and objects on view of widely circulated illustrated imagery will be on view, produced from the late eighteenth century to today, which have an impact on public perception about race in the United States.  Further details about this exhibition and related events are available at: NRM.org/Imprinted

Image Credit:
Emory Douglas. (b. 1943)
Martin Luther King, Jr., 1993
Cover illustration for the Sun-Reporter, 1993
© 2022 Emory Douglas / Licensed by AFNYLAW.com

RELATED EVENTS

View Calendar

MEDIA

Exhibition Video: In Our Lifetime: Paintings from the Pandemic by Kadir Nelson

Published: June 2022

CBS Sunday Morning: Artist Kadir Nelson’s “After the Storm”

Published: April 19, 2020

The Rolling Stone Cover: Kadir Nelson

Published: June 16, 2020

Icons of Black History on Canvas | Color Creatives

Published: February 13, 2019

Artist Kadir Nelson’s illustrations of pride and soul

Published: July 3, 2016

NEWS

American Uprising, 2020 - Kadir Nelson

SPOTLIGHT IN OUR LIFETIME: PAINTINGS FROM THE PANDEMIC

Kadir Nelson painted the human drama we collectively lived through during the pandemic
July 22, 2022
By Jennifer Huberdeau, The Berkshire Eagle
STOCKBRIDGE — A fist raised high in the air, a foot planted firmly on the step in front of her, the woman at the center of “American Uprising” — wearing a T-shirt with an image of George Floyd and an American flag scarf around her neck — urges the crowd of protestors behind her to follow.
It’s a moment etched in time — of unity, of a movement to end systemic racism toward African Americans — a Black Lives Matter protest.

PRESS RELEASE

STOCKBRIDGE, MA— Norman Rockwell Museum (NRM) is pleased to debut In Our Lifetime: Paintings from the Pandemic by Kadir Nelson featuring twelve recent paintings by the award-winning illustrator and author. Conceptualized and created during the COVID-19 pandemic, these works capture Nelson’s reflections on today’s national and world events. Additional paintings by the artist are included in the concurrent exhibition Imprinted: Illustrating Race; both exhibitions will be on view June 11 – October 31. Read more..

VENUE(S)

Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA    June 11 through October 30, 2022

Hours

OPEN
Mon 10am-4pm
Tue 10am-4pm
Thu 10am-4pm
Fri 10am-4pm
Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 10am-5pm

CLOSED
Wednesdays
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
New Year’s Day
ROCKWELL’S STUDIO
Closed for the season.
Opens May 1, 2025

Special Holiday Hours: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10am-2pm.
When attending the Museum, please observe our COVID-19 policies; in addition to Massachusetts Travel Guidelines.

Admissions

There are limited daily tickets for tours of Norman Rockwell’s Studio. It is recommended you purchase your museum admission and studio tour tickets online in advance of your visit.  Museum Visit admission is required for all tours.

Buy Admission

Members Adult Seniors /
Veterans & Military		 Children MA Teachers College
Students
Museum Visit: Free $25 $23 Free $22 $10
Curator Tour:
Original Sisters		 $10 + $20 + $20 Free + $20 + $20
Guided Tour:
Rockwell’s Life & Art
(40 minutes)		 Free +$10 +$10 Free +$10 +$10

There are limited daily tickets for tours of Norman Rockwell’s Studio. It is recommended you purchase your museum admission and studio tour tickets online in advance of your visit.  Museum Visit admission is required for all tours.

Buy Admission

Museum Visit:
Members, Children, & Active Military: FREE
Adults: $25
Seniors & Retired Military: $23
MA Teachers: $22
College Students: $10

Guided Tour:
Rockwell’s Life & Art
(40 minutes) – additional purchase
Members, Children, & Active Military: FREE
Ticket per person: $10

Curator Tour:
Original Sisters
Members: $10
Children: FREE
Adults: $20
Seniors & Active/Retired Military: $20
College Students: $20

Additional Discount Opportunities:

  • Front Line Medical Workers receive free admission.
  • AAA member, NARM member, Stockbridge Resident, and EBT/WIC/ConnectorCare Cardholder discounts available.

For Free and Reduced prices, you may be required to present a valid ID demonstrating your status for qualifying for discounted pricing.

Available Discounts
Kids Free is supported by:
Connector Card is supported by:
Norman Rockwell Museum receives support from:

DIRECTIONS

Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Glendale Road Route 183
Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-931-2221

Download a Printable version of Driving Directions (acrobat PDF).

Important note: Many GPS and online maps do not accurately place Norman Rockwell Museum*. Please use the directions provided here and this map image for reference. Google Maps & Directions are correct! http://maps.google.com/

* Please help us inform the mapping service companies that incorrectly locate the Museum; let your GPS or online provider know and/or advise our Visitor Services office which source provided faulty directions.

Route 7 runs north to south through the Berkshires. Follow Route 7 South to Stockbridge. Turn right onto Route 102 West and follow through Main Street Stockbridge. Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

Route 7 runs north to south through the Berkshires. Follow Route 7 North into Stockbridge. Turn left onto Route 102 West at the stop sign next to The Red Lion Inn. Shortly after you make the left turn, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

Boston (two-and-a-half hours) or Springfield (one hour):
Take the Ma ssachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West, getting off at exit 10 (formerly exit 2) – Lee. At the light at the end of the ramp turn left onto Route 20 East and then immediately turn right onto Route 102 West. Follow Route 102 West into Stockbridge Center (about five miles). Continue going west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

from Albany and west: (one hour) Take I-90 east to exit B3 – Route 22. Go south on New York Route 22 to Massachusetts Route 102 East. Stay on Route 102 East through West Stockbridge. Continue on Route 102 East approximately 5.5 miles until you come to a blinking light at the intersection of Route 183. Make a right at the blinking light onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(two-and-a-half hours) Take either the New York State Thruway or the Taconic State Parkway to I-90 East. Follow I-90 East to exit B3 – Route 22. Go south on New York Route 22 to Massachusetts Route 102 East. Stay on Route 102 East through West Stockbridge. Continue on Route 102 East approximately 5.5 miles until you come to a blinking light at the intersection of Route 183. Make a right at the blinking light onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(one-and-a-half hours) Take I-91 North to the Massachusetts Turnpike. Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West, getting off at exit 10 (formerly exit 2) – Lee. At the light at the end of the ramp turn left onto Route 20 East and then immediately turn right onto Route 102 West. Follow Route 102 West into Stockbridge Center (about five miles). Continue going west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(five minutes)
Go west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.