Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

The faces in this painting represent the same figure as a boy and as a man. The surrounding shapes and designs represent traditional African spiritual ceremonies. These layered images link the past (African traditions) to the present and future (African American progress). 

James Huff was a North Carolina-based artist whose portraits celebrate Black identity. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow is intended to be a symbol of African American pride, celebration, and hope. It won first place in the NCMA’s 1979 art competition. Huff’s painting was the last entry on the final day of the contest. It was up against more than 2,500 other art submissions. 

Huff became the fifth African American artist with a work of art in the NCMA’s permanent collection. He advocated for museums and other art institutions to include more work by artists of color in their collections.