AFRICAN AMERICAN ETCHING Quilt CURLEE RAVEN HOLTON Black Artist Philadelphia PA
Original etching of an black man seated upon a colorful quilt on his bed with a guitar, tears flowing down his cheeks. In his bedroom he is surrounded by many images and objects reflecting his African American history. The objects are arranged in the picture by the artist to make the scene a quilt itself. African American artist Curlee Raven Holton b.
Holton is a Philadelphia based artist. Curlee Raven Holton is a painter, printmaker, and the founder of Raven Fine Art Editions.
Holton has been exhibited professionally for over 25 years in more than 30 one-person shows and more than 80 group shows. Holton uses artmaking to understand and find meaning in some of life's most perplexing issues. His prints speak to our human experience, and through the lens of his African American heritage, he brings voice to significant personal, political, and cultural events. Holton's work is a commentary on issues that impact society, including race, poverty, political concerns, isolation, and class, using symbolism and provocative figurative representations to engage viewers in a shared dialogue. Although also known for his paintings and drawings, it is fitting that Holton chose printmaking to express some of his most socially charged work.Printmaking has a rich history of political use. Prints can be produced in multiples and, therefore, can be dispensed to a wide audience. Holton earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1987 from the Cleveland Institute of Fine Arts in Drawing and Printmaking and his Master of Fine Arts degree from Kent State University in 1990. Since 1991 he has taught printmaking and African American art history at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, and is the founding director of the Experimental Printmaking Institute. His work is part of public and private collections, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, The Discovery Museum of Art and Science, Connecticut; the West Virginia Governor's Mansion; the Foundation of Culture Rodolfo Morales, Oaxaca, Mexico; Yale University Art Gallery; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Pennsylvania; and the Library of Congress.
Etching with hand coloring and collage elements on Arches paper. Pencil signed Curlee Raven Holton. Measures 18" x 23 3/4" plate. Sheet size 21" x 27 1/2".