If art reflects life, then some of the greatest artistic visionaries in history have created works in testament to the struggle. Some, like Kara Walker and Faith Ringgold, have taken their craft off the canvas and turned it into tactile art so that viewers have a palpable sense of the Black plight. Painters like Jacob Lawrence and Kerry James Marshall have documented key aspects of our existence to ensure we aren’t lost through time.

In this BET.com roundup, we explore eight Black artists whose pieces have touched the soul and reflected the state of our nation.

Jacob Lawrence

Although subtle, late painter Jacob Lawrence was clear about his politics in pieces like the 60-panel series “The Migration of the Negro,” which depicted the mass exodus from the American South to northern states in the early 19th century, and “To Preserve Their History,” an homage to Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L’Ouverture.

Emory Douglas

Emory Douglas, graphic artist and member of the Black Panther Panther, detailed the mission of his movement in college and photomontage pieces like “Survival Pending Revolution” and “You Can Jail a Revolutionary But You Can’t Jail a Revolution.”

Kara Walker

While utilizing shocking images and light humor, collage artist, muralist, and installation artist Kara Walker tactfully covers American slavery and racism in her often silhouette-styled works. Last year, the California-born artist opened a moving installation, “Fortuna and the Immortality Garden (Machine),” at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Theaster Gates

In his industrial-designed work, social practice installation artist and community organizer Theaster Gates strives for racial inclusion and the dismantling of white supremacy. His latest exhibit is “1965: Malcolm in Winter: A Translation Exercise” at London’s White Cube Bermondsey.

Kerry James Marshall

While challenging the skewed perspective of the Black American experience, painter Kerry James Marshall memorializes Black subjects and critical historical moments, examples being “Souvenir II” and “Souvenir IV.”

Faith Ringgold

Narrative quilt artist and painter Faith Ringgold articulated the pains of racism and police brutality in her most graphic pieces, like “Die” and “The Flag Is Bleeding.”

Betye Saar

A master in the art of assemblage, crafter Betye Saar explores the distorted view of Black female bodies and racist caricatures, a common figure being Aunt Jemima.

Nikkolas Smith

Contemporary artist, illustrator, and activist Nikolas Smith is largely known for his vivid protest art that focuses on fallen victims of racial and police brutality, like Ahmad Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor.