Artist Statement
"When I turned eighteen years old, my grandfather stressed the importance of voting by taking me to a tree where he was told that African-Americans were lynched by their neckties on their way to vote. The experience left a profound impression in my mind."

-Kevin E. Cole, 1990

Since 1992, my work has evolved from the use of the necktie as an icon, motif, and symbol of power. The works incorporate patterns and textures from traditional African cloths such as the Kente and Adinkra cloths, cloths that speak to human conditions and behaviors.
Throughout all of my work, I continue to investigate the existence of polyrhythmic space and overlapping planes, the raw emotional power of color and texture. In these recent works I have includes scarf shapes that represent the struggles of women. These shapes weave and intertwine around linear painted rods. The rods for me, symbolize strength. After September 11, 2001 I started working on aluminum and (tar) roofing paper as a protest against this American tragedy.
In some of the recent small works I utilize the ends of the ties and scarf shapes intergraded with abstract pattern and various kinds of textures. Some critics say these pieces remind them of picket fences which are prevalent in the south with a strong connection to southern plantations.

Born
January 19, 1960
Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Education
M.F.A Drawing, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL
M.A. Art Education / Painting, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
B.S. Art Education, University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, AR

Over 39 awards in art: 30 fellowships and grants, and 23 teaching awards:

2004 Southeastern Region Secondary Art Educator of the Year, by the National
Art Education Association
2003 Georgia Secondary Art Educator of the Year by the Georgia Art Education Association.
2003 Class Act 11 Alive Outstanding Teachers in Georgia
Who’s Who is Making a Different
2002 Alumni Award, University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, AR
2001 Who’s Who in America 53rd Edition
2000 Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation Fellowship, Colorado Spring, CO
Knight Foundation Fellowship, Philadelphia, PA
1999 Learn & Serve Grant, State of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
1998 Fellowship, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Sweetbriar, VA
1997 Super Teacher of the Year, Turner Broadcasting, Atlanta, GA
1996 Georgia State Artist of the Year, Atlanta, GA
Voted Best Mural in Atlanta, GA, Creative Loafing, Atlanta, GA
1995 Who’s Who is Education
Award of Excellence for Public Art, Atlanta Urban Design Commission, Atlanta, GA
NEA Community Public Art Project, Washington, DC
1994 Who’ Who Among American High School Teacher
Individual Artist Grant, Georgia Council for the Arts, Atlanta, GA
1992 Mellow Foundation Fellowship, New York, NY
Artist Grant Georgia Council for the Arts, Atlanta, GA
1991 Paul Roberson, Award for Art Education, Atlanta, GA
Artist Project Grant, City of Atlanta
Independent Artist Grant, Fulton County Arts Council, Atlanta, GA
1990 Teacher of the Year Wood land Middle School
Award of Excellence Public Art, Atlanta, GA
1986 Teacher of the Year, Camp Creek Middle School
1985 Rhoden Smith Scholar, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL

Over 30 Public Art Commissions

Washington Park Natatorium, Atlanta, GA
P.A.R.K, Little Rock, AR
Georgia International Convention Center, Atlanta, GA
StudioPlex, Atlanta GA (Installation)
ESPN Zone (Disney), Atlanta, GA (for the 2000 Super Bowl) – 48” x 38” x 9”)
Charlottesville Arbermarle Airport, Charlottesville, VA – 72” x 350” x 14”
Forest Avenue Public Library, Des Moines, IA – 120” x 120” x 3”
The Coca-Cola Centennial Olympic Mural for the 1996 Olympic Games, Atlanta, GA – 8200sq.ft
Southeast Atlanta Recreation Center (Artist Team), Atlanta, GA – 18’ x 12’ x 8’
The United Way, Atlanta, GA – 64” x 260” x 5”
The Anchor Center, Atlanta, GA – 69” x 240”
Red Oak Recreation Center, Red Oak, GA – 53” x 120”
City Hall, Atlanta, GA – 84” x 283” x 7”
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA – 115” x 105” x 7”
Carver Homes Public Library, Atlanta, GA – 15’ x 14’ x 2’ Installation
Bankhead Court Public Library, Atlanta, GA – 12’ x 10’ x 15” Installation
Boatrock Public Library, Atlanta, GA – 110” x 110” x 4”
My Sister’s House, Atlanta, GA, 72”x189”x12”

Over 600 Selected Public, Private and Corporate Collectors

The Morris Museum, Augusta, GA
Tampa Museum,
Corcoran Museum, Washington, DC
Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
Hammonds House Galleries and Museum, Atlanta, GA
Tubman Museum, Macon, GA
Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum, LaGrange, GA
King Tisdale Museum, Savannah, GA
The Dr. David C. Driskell Center, University of Maryland, College Park MD
Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR
Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Gas Light, Atlanta, GA
UPS, Chicago, IL
The Coca-Cola Co. Atlanta, GA
HeadFirst Marketing Research Inc, Stone Mountain, GA
MTV Studios, San Monica, CA
Alabama Power Co., Birmingham, AL
Atlanta Life Insurance Co., Atlanta, GA
Bank of America, Charlotte, NC
Bell Laboratories, Hartford, NJ
City of Charleston, Charleston, SC
Doubletree Hotel, Tampa, FL
Eso Won Books, Los Angeles, CA
Evans-Tibbs Collection, Washington, DC
Gink, Marc, Inc., St. Louis, MO
The Houston Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
IBM, New York City, NY
Jump Incorporated, Chicago, IL
Kaiser Permanente, Atlanta, GA
King and Spalding Law Firm, Atlanta, GA
McKinnley Foundation, Champaign, IL
McKizzie & Company, Atlanta, GA
Northern Telecom Inc., Atlanta, GA
Restaurant Development Group, Cincinnati, OH
Sutherland, Asbill, Brennan Law Firm, Atlanta, GA
The Springer School, Cincinnati, OH
University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, AR
Virginia Center for the Arts, Sweetbriar, VA
West Georgia College, Carrollton, GA
Shorter College, Little Rock, AR
Fulton County Arts Council, Atlanta, GA
The College Board, New York City
Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL, NY
Nancy Gunn Library, Conyers, GA
South Fulton Regional Library, Union City, GA

Over 400 exhibitions, Solo, Group, Juried and invitational Exhibitions:

2003 Mary Pauline Gallery, Augusta, GA(solo)
Jacob Lawrence and Kevin Cole, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle ,WA
National Black Fine Art Show, Puck Building, New York, NY ( Selected artist)
2002 Thelma Harris Gallery( solo)
University of Maryland, College Park, GA (Collectors Collection)
Hampton Museum, Hampton University, Hampton VA (Juried)
Michael Carlos Museum , Emory University, Atlanta, GA( Group
Sander Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA
International Visions Gallery, Washington DC
Cress Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
2001 African American Art Museum, Dallas ,TX
“ Absence of color”, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA (Invitational)
“Will” Old Dominion University, Norfork, VA (Invitational)
2000 Auction 2000, Aljira Center for Contemporary Art, Newark, NJ
Chicago Black Art Exhibition , Navy Pier, Chicago, IL (Group)
Third Annual National Black Art Exhibition, New York, NY (Group)
Dillard University, New Orleans, LA (Collaboration)
African-American Art Museum, Dallas, TX (Juried)
Art Center of the Ozark, Springdale, AR
Runaway Moon Gallery, West Palm Beach, FL
1999 Sandler Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA,
Hammonds House Galleries, Atlanta, GA
Mary Pauline Gallery, Augusta, GA
Sande Webster Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Arts & Cultural Center, Hollywood, FL (invitational)
Dell Pryor Gallery, Detroit, MI (Group
621 Gallery, Tallahassee, FL (Juried)
Porter Troupe Gallery, San Diego, CA
Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA
1998 Kevin Cole, Frank Stella, Sam Gilliam, John Scott, etc.
Brandywine Workshop, Center for the Arts, Philadelphia, PA (Invitational)
The Second Annual National Black Art Exhibition, New York City, NY
Sande Webster Gallery, The Armory Show, New York (Group)
City Gallery East, Atlanta, GA (Invitational)
Mary Pauline Gallery, Augusta, GA (Solo)
1997 Dallas African American Art Museum, Dallas, TX (Juried)
Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA (Invitational)
Art Educators Invitational, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
Decatur Arts Festival, Decatur, GA (Juried)
Nationally Recognized Artist with Arkansas Roots, Thompson Fine Arts, Little Rock Ark
Contemporary Art Exhibition, Leon Loard Gallery, Montgomery, AL (Group)
1996 Hunter Museum, Chattanooga, TN ( Juried)
Spruill Art Center, Atlanta, GA (Invitational)
Dell Pryor Gallery, Detroit, MI ( Group)
Leon Loard Gallery, Montgomery, AL ( Group)
20th Century African-American Art from the Collection of Mr. & Mrs. Darrell
Walker, University of Arkansas, Little Rock (Group)
Becky Cohens, Kevin Cole & Mel Edwards, Porter / Troupe Gallery, San Diego, CA
1994 Kevin Cole, Frank Bowling, Frank Smith, Clayton Evan, and Sylvia Snowden,
School 33, Baltimore, MD (invitational)
1994 The McIntosh Gallery, Atlanta, GA (Group)
Chastain Art Gallery, Atlanta, GA (Invitational)
1993 The Savannah National, Savannah, GA (Juried)
Columbia College, Colombia, MO ( Juried)
Tangemen Gallery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH (Invitational)
1991 Kevin Cole, Scott Davis, and Sandra Hu, Bomani Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Kevin Cole, Benny Andrews, and Larry Walker Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA
1988 Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, LA ( Group)

Selected Bibliography

• “Art in the new Georgia International Convention Center” Atlanta Business Chronicle, May 30, 2003
• Best Bet, Kevin Cole & Preston Sampson, at International Visions Gallery Washington Times, Washington
DC, March 21, 2002
• Veronica Reed, “Passing T he Passion African American Art Collectors in the NBA” The International Review
of African American Art, Volume 17 2001
• Tom Stanley, “Clothes make the art in new exhibit,” Arkansas Democrat- Gazette,
September 1, 2000
• Jerry Cullum, Images, Wall pieces echo with liberating effect, Atlanta Journal –Constitution, Friday Feb. 4, 2000
• Elena Cabral, “Hollywood exhibits showcase South Florida artists,” Hollywood Herald, November 7, 1999
• Catherine Fox, “Colorful combinations: Three Atlanta artists stake their claim in vivid hues, abstractions,” Atlanta
Journal / Constitution, October 15, 1999
• Edward J. Sozanski, “A dialogue between painting and sculpture,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 23, 1999
• Robert Pincus, “Kevin Cole: Surviving Another Beat,” The Union Tribune, San Diego, CA April 30 1998
• Ruth Latter, “Ties to the Community,” The Daily Progress, Charlottesville, VA, April 23, 1998
• Diane Jeilenman: “African-American Exhibit Invigorating.” The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY: Sunday, February 15, 1998
• John Kernaghan: “Darrell, Sees the Big Picture.” July 1997, Toronto Raptors Year Book, Toronto, Canada
• NBA Inside Stuff, (NBC TV) , New York, November 16, 1996
• Donald Locke: “Three Dimension, Kindred Spirit,” Creative Loafing - June 28, 1996
• Mary Hill: “Intercity Youth, Engaging in Challenging Art Projects,” Des Moines Registry - March 14, 1996
• Carolan Schwartz: “Kevin Cole, An Exceptional Vision,” Art Experience Atlanta, December 4, 1995
• Merle Ware: “Good Day Atlanta” (CBS TV), Atlanta, GA, December 4, 1995
• Karen Daniels: “Between the Lines,” (TBS TV), August 12, 1995
• Amanda Morris: “From the Diary of Kevin Cole,” Free Form Magazine, Volume 1, Atlanta, GA -April 1995
• Mike Guiliano, “Black and Abstract.” City Paper, Baltimore, MD, February 22, 1995
• GA – August 5, 1994
• Bill Alexander, “Kevin Cole at North Georgia College, Dahlonega, Georgia,” Arts Papers, Atlanta, GA, August 5, 1994

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