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A Black Renaissance Woman
Renaissance Woman uncovers the remarkable life and legacy of Louise E. Jefferson, a trailblazing Black creative whose work left a deep yet overlooked impact on art and culture in the 20th century. As one of the first female and Black art directors in publishing, Jefferson carved out a distinguished career for over fifty years, defying racial and gender barriers to run a thriving design business against the backdrop of the Great Depression, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, and late 20th century America. This biography of Louise E. Jefferson offers a comprehensive view of her life, her artistic career, and her enduring influence on art, design, and Black culture.
Tasheka Arceneaux Sutton explores Jefferson's upbringing, her pivotal role in the publishing industry, and her collaborations with prominent organizations like the NAACP, the National Urban League, the Harlem Artist Guild, and institutions of higher learning. By chronicling Jefferson's journey--from her formative years to her rise as a connected figure in the Black art community-- Renaissance Woman sheds light on the longevity of Jefferson's career and reclaims her legacy in graphic design, illustration, cartography, calligraphy, and photography.
About the author
Tasheka Arceneaux Sutton is an educator, graphic designer, image-maker, and writer. She is associate professor of design at the University of Texas at Austin and faculty member in the M.F.A. program in graphic design at Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is the founder and principal of Blacvoice Design, a studio focused on branding, electronic media, identity development, illustration, and publication design. She has an MFA in graphic design from California Institute of the Arts and a BA in English from Loyola University in New Orleans.
