12 Facts About Ronald Lockett

Ronald Lockett was an American visual artist, combining painting with three dimensional objects.

Ronald Lockett's work has been shown in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Ackland Art Museum, and The American Folk Art Museum.

Ronald Lockett was born and raised in the Pipe Shop neighborhood of Bessemer, Alabama.

Since childhood, Ronald Lockett knew that he wanted to be an artist, and he grew up under the mentorship of his uncle and artist, Thornton Dial.

Ronald Lockett was one of five children, four boys and one girl, born to Betty and "Short" Ronald Lockett.

Ronald Lockett's father, known as "Short" or "Little Bud," left Betty and their children when Lockett was a young child.

Ronald Lockett was socially and economically ostracized from his peers and potential mentors.

Ronald Lockett lived with his mother until her death, and then in her house until his own death shortly after.

Ronald Lockett's siblings fared variously, some joined the Navy and law enforcement, while another struggled with recidivism.

Coming-of-age after the civil rights movement, and dying before the novels of the 21st century, Ronald Lockett was stuck in a socio-cultural limbo.

Ronald Lockett often joked that he stared at his work more than he worked on it.

When Ronald Lockett developed HIV, his outlook changed along with his practice.