Helen LaFrance (1919-2020) was a self-taught American artist born in rural Kentucky. She was raised in the American south amongst Jim Crow laws and the Great Depression — both of which would inspire much of her art throughout her career. However, her paintings never expressed the pain and cruelty of the era, but scenes of normalcy and joy in Black American life during the era. While LaFrance was not able to work as a full-time artist until later in life, art was of notable importance since her childhood. LaFrance only had three years of school before working on a farm, but her parents continued to support her artistic interests, encouraging her to paint what she saw. This trend continued throughout her career, as she continued to paint scenes of festivals, churches, parades, farms, and more with vivid colors. Today, she is considered one of the most important figures in American folk art for her ability to capture the African American experience in the South.
