Loïs Mailou Jones
1905–1998
Boston; Martha’s Vineyard
Loïs Mailou Jones was born in Boston, where her family encouraged her interest in art. She trained in design and painting and built a career that reached far beyond Massachusetts. France, Haiti, and several African countries helped shape her colors, subjects, and patterns. Jones made landscapes, portraits, textile designs, and bold compositions inspired by African art. She also taught for decades at Howard University, helping younger artists develop their skills. Her long career challenges the idea that an artist must have only one style, subject, or source of inspiration.
You can use your device’s reading tools or read with a partner.
Find a detail. Build an idea.
- What did this person or group do? Point to a detail in the reading.
- How can making art, teaching, or caring for others change a community?
- What would you like to find out next? Which kind of source could help?
“Loïs Mailou Jones mattered because ___. A detail that supports my idea is ___.”
Grades 6–8: dig deeper
How can learning from several places or artistic traditions change the work an artist creates?
Follow the evidence.
This short reading is an original classroom summary. Open the source with your teacher to check details and learn more.
Read the source: Smithsonian Institution ↗Ask: Who made this source? What can it tell us? What might it leave out?