Robert Colescott is known for satirical genre and crowd subjects, often conveying his exuberant, comical, or bitter reflections on being African American.
13 Facts About Robert Colescott
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Robert Colescott's mother was a pianist and his father was an accomplished classical and jazz violinist.
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The sculptor Sargent Claude Johnson was a family friend who was a role model to Robert Colescott growing up, and was a connection to the Harlem Renaissance and artwork dealing with African-American experience.
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In 1940, Robert Colescott watched as the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera painted a mural at the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island near San Francisco.
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Robert Colescott went on to absorb the Western art historical canon and to explore the art of Africa and New Guinea.
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Robert Colescott spent the following year in Paris, studying with French artist Fernand Leger, then returned to UC Berkeley, earning a master's degree in 1952.
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Robert Colescott's work was included in the gallery's inaugural exhibition in 1961, and he was given his first solo show there in 1963.
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In 1997 Robert Colescott was catapulted into the international limelight when he was selected to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale.
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Robert Colescott moved to the Pacific Northwest after graduation from UC Berkeley and began teaching at Portland State University.
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Robert Colescott was on staff there from 1957 to 1966.
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Robert Colescott returned to Portland for a year but went back to Egypt as a visiting professor at the American University of Cairo from 1966 to 1967.
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Robert Colescott accepted a position as a visiting professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1983, and joined the faculty in 1985.
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Robert Colescott was the father to five sons: Alex, Nick, Dennett, Daniel and Cooper.