Archibald Motley Jr.’s Nightlife | Art Institute Essentials Tour

On this episode of Art Institute Essentials Tour, take a closer look at Nightlife, painted by Archibald Motley Jr. in 1943.

Chicago painter Archibald Motley represented the vibrancy of African American culture. Dig deeper into his electrifying portrayal of a Chicago jazz club and discover more about its dazzling color palette, compositional tricks, the South Side neighborhood of Bronzeville, and the fellow Art Institute artwork that inspired it.

Keep reading and learn more about Nightlife on our artwork page:
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/117266/nightlife