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In 1970, Alston was commissioned by Reverend Donald Harrington to create a bust of the late Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Community Church of New York. Alston made five casts of King’s likeness, one of which was commissioned by the National Gallery of Art.
[1] [24] When Barack Obama became the first black president in 2009, he brought the bust of Martin Luther King Jr. into the Oval Office, replacing a bust of Winston Churchill. This marked the first time an image of an African American was displayed in the president's work quarters.
Feb 22, 2017 · Charles Henry Alston (November 28, 1907–April 27, 1977) was a noted African American artist and teacher. He is best known for sculpting the bust of Martin Luther King, Jr., on display in the White House, but his association with the federal government started much earlier.
Alston designed and painted murals at the Harlem Hospital and the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building. In 1990 Alston's bust of Martin Luther King Jr. became the first image of an African American displayed at the White House.
- American
- November 28, 1907
- Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
- April 27, 1977
Jan 15, 2016 · Less than two years after Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated, the African-American artist Charles Alston received a commission from Rev. Donald Harrington for the Community Church of New...
Jul 20, 2024 · In 1990, Alston's bronze bust of Martin Luther King Jr. (1970), became the first image of an African American to be displayed in the White House. When Barack Obama became the first black president in 2009, he brought the bust of Martin Luther King Jr. into the Oval Office, replacing a bust of Winston Churchill .
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Jan 1, 2021 · It was the first time an image of an African American had ever graced the president’s inner working quarters. The sculptor of the piece—at that point deceased by over three decades—was the 20th century African American artist, Charles Alston. Like the sculpture of King, and President Obama, Alston was accustomed to being first.
