E&S Gallery: Nation's Oldest Black-Owned Fine Art Gallery Champions Legacy
E&S Gallery in Louisville, founded in 1989 by Walter Shannon, is the nation's oldest and largest African American owned fine art gallery. The gallery recently launched Black Crown Art Auctions, the only active Black-owned auction house in the US. Co-owners Walter and Cathy Shannon emphasize education and legacy over quick returns, selling works by icons like Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, and Romare Bearden. In 2007, Cathy Shannon's speech at Carnegie Mellon led to Catlett receiving an honorary doctorate in 2008. E&S hosted Catlett's last lifetime exhibition in 2009, luring her with Kentucky Derby tickets. The gallery operates on payment plans and derives 98% of business from outside Kentucky. Louisville's Speed Art Museum co-owns Amy Sherald's portrait of Breonna Taylor with the Smithsonian. The Kentucky Contemporary Art Museum features Stan Squirewell through July 5, 2026.
Key facts
- E&S Gallery founded in 1989 by Walter Shannon in Louisville.
- Nation's oldest and largest African American owned fine art gallery.
- Launched Black Crown Art Auctions, only active Black-owned auction house in US.
- Cathy Shannon's 2007 speech led to Elizabeth Catlett's honorary doctorate from Carnegie Mellon in 2008.
- E&S hosted Catlett's last lifetime exhibition in 2009.
- Gallery acquired a private collection of Jacob Lawrence artworks for $4 million.
- 98% of business comes from outside Kentucky.
- Speed Art Museum co-owns Amy Sherald's Breonna Taylor portrait with Smithsonian.
Entities
Artists
- Elizabeth Catlett
- Jacob Lawrence
- Romare Bearden
- Richard Mayhew
- David Driscoll
- Gwen Knight
- Bob Thompson
- Sam Gilliam
- Amy Sherald
- Stan Squirewell
Institutions
- E&S Gallery
- Black Crown Art Auctions
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Speed Art Museum
- Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Kentucky Contemporary Art Museum
- Roots 101 African American Museum
- Muhammad Ali Center
- Forbes
Locations
- Louisville
- Kentucky
- Pittsburgh
- Cuernavaca
- Mexico
- Detroit
- New York
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Washington, DC
- United States