Ekua Holmes was born on in 1955 and is an American mixed-media artist, children's book illustrator, and arts organization professional.
12 Facts About Ekua Holmes
1.
2.
Ekua Holmes holds a BFA in Photography from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
3.
Ekua Holmes uses found newspapers, magazines, old stamps, and so on.
4.
Many of Ekua Holmes's collages are reminiscent of works by African and African American artists such as the late Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and Njideka Akunyili.
5.
Ekua Holmes founded The Great Black Art Collection, an organization dedicated to both giving a platform to emerging artists and to introducing Black art to previously unreached audiences.
6.
Ekua Holmes is currently working in Boston as an assistant director at the Center for Art and Community Partnerships at MassArt.
7.
Ekua Holmes has illustrated several children's picture books, garnering awards for several.
8.
Ekua Holmes has exhibited at Hess Gallery of Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, MA, and Harvard Medical School's Transit Gallery.
9.
Ekua Holmes's work is in the public collections of the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists, Boston Medical Center, Boston Arts Academy, Dana Farber Cancer Center and the Boston Children's Hospital.
10.
Ekua Holmes was awarded the 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for Out of Wonder and the 2019 award for The Stuff of Stars.
11.
Ekua Holmes was the recipient of a 2013 Brother Thomas Fellowship from The Boston Foundation.
12.
Also in 2013, Ekua Holmes was named to the Boston Art Commission, which oversees public art projects on city property.