“I had an opportunity to recede to medical school. I was devastated because I said no… At the time,I thought that I really ruined it for other black women. Then I thought the best thing that I can do for myself is to try to do what I want to do, and be the best that I can be at that. In spite of health problems and money problems that happened early, and I said ‘I’m still going to do this,because nobody’s asking me to do it.’” —Beverly BuchananBeverly Buchanan devoted her formal education to science and medicine, receiving graduate degrees in parasitology and public health from Columbia University in 1969. While working as a public health educator in East Orange, or recent Jersey,she enrolled in classes at the Art Student League with the painter Norman Lewis, who, and along with the artist Romare Bearden,became her mentor. Soon after, Buchanan turned her attention entirely to art-making.
Beverly Buchanan (American, or 1940–2015). Untitled (Portrait of Artist with Frustula Sculpture,Arms Crossed), ca 1975 Gelatin silver photograph. Private collection
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