I am a storyteller. Art is my story. Art is an opportunity to acknowledge one human race, one global community. My photographic series “Face As Canvas” was inspired by the ancient art of face-painting and body adornment. As cave dwellers, human beings painted their bodies as well as cave walls. They used these images as a form of communication and self-expression. This seems to me to be the beginning of art as community. This community is shared through the language of color and symbols. It includes every similarity and differences found in the human race.
Art is seen and felt. It has power. This power can move, change minds and heal brokenness. My life as an artist has been a journey of healing. I create art to give the viewer an experience of color, texture and form. For me, making art is how I stand up right, take in air and feel the warmth of light on my face.
Education
MFA Degree, Savannah College of Art and Design, 2016
Masters of Art Education, University of South Florida, 1993
Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, Ringling School of Art and Design, 1986
Select Exhibition List
2024 - “In Praise of Life” - Tampa Museum of Art, November 14,2024
2024 - Juneteenth Event - Tampa Museum of Art, June 15,2024
2024 - SOLO EXHIBITION - “BOLDNESS- Born of Color and Texture” - C. Blythe Andrews Public Library, February- April 2024
2021 - SOLO EXHIBITION - “A Thousand Words” - Ringling College of Art and Design, The Patricia Thompson Gallery, Sarasota, Florida, August 30-December 10, 2021
2021 - Saunders Library, Tampa, Fl. - July
2019 – C. Blythe Andrews Public Library, Tampa, Fl. - October
2019 – Robert W. Saunders Library and Civil Rights Museum, Tampa, Fl. - January
2019 – Saunders Library Solo Exhibition - July
2016 – DDA Development, Tampa, Fl.
2016 – Thesis Exhibition, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, Fl.
2001 - John German Gallery, Tampa, Fl.
2001 – TECO Gallery, Tampa, Fl.
1998 – Of Spirit and Light, Hillsborough Community College Gallery, Tampa, Fl.
1996 – Sweet Surrender, Museum of African American Art, Tampa, Fl.
Juried Exhibitions
2021- Oh the Places I’ve been, Beach Art Center, Indian Rocks Beach, Florida
2020 - Beach Art Center, Indian Rocks Beach, Florida
2019 – International Photography Competition, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
2019 - Forever Young, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Tampa, Fl.
2018 – Patterns-Light Space Time Gallery
2018 - Abstract and Surrealism Art Show, Tampa Bay Society of Photographic Arts, Tampa, Fl.
2017 – On the Move, Gutstein Gallery, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Ga.
2016 – Modern Love, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Ga.
Awards, Presentations and Publications
2024 - 1st Place Award Winner, Carrollwood Cultural Center.
2021 - Published art, “AMERICAN PORTRAIT” by PBS, 2 photographs published on the cover of this book.
2021-Presenter, 15-Minutes of Fame, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
2020 - Presenter, 3x10 Ringling Alumni Gathering, Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota, Fl.
2020 - Artsy Shark Summer Showcase - Photograph published summer 2020
2019 – National Geographic Website - Photograph published as Photo of the Week– August 2019
2019 – Published art, “The Esthetic Apostle” Magazine, art published in June 2019 issue
2019 – 2nd Place Award winner, International Photography Competition, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
2019 - Presenter, Robert Saunders Library and Civil Rights Museum, Tampa, Fl.
2018 - Special Merit Award, Patterns-Light Space Time Gallery
2017 - Presenter for Florida Arts Educators Conference, St. Petersburg, Florida
Collections
2021 - Ringling College of Art and Design
2019 – Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
2018 - Sun Art Collection - CBS News Sunday Morning
2000 - Hillsborough County Public Art Collection, Tampa, Florida