Alonzo Davis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alonzo Davis
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| Born | February 2, 1942 Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S.
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| Died | January 27, 2025 (aged 82) |
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Alonzo Davis (born February 2, 1942 – died January 27, 2025) was an important African-American artist. He was also a teacher and a strong supporter of Black art.
Alonzo Davis is famous for starting the Brockman Gallery in Los Angeles. He opened it with his brother, Dale Brockman Davis. This gallery helped show the amazing work of many Black artists.
He also created a well-known mural called Eye on '84. This artwork celebrated the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles.
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Alonzo Davis's Early Life
Alonzo Davis grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama. His father was a professor at Tuskegee University. In 1955, his family moved to Los Angeles, California. There, he saw many different kinds of art, including Asian art.
Alonzo studied art at Pepperdine University. He noticed that his classes mostly focused on white artists. He wanted to learn more about Black art in America.
So, he and his brother Dale, who was also an artist, traveled across the country. They met other Black artists, like the "Spiral Group" in Harlem. This group included famous artists like Romare Bearden.
Starting the Brockman Gallery
The idea for the Brockman Gallery came to Alonzo and Dale during a road trip. They were driving back from a march in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1966.
In 1967, they opened the gallery on Degnan Avenue in Leimert Park, Los Angeles. They named it "Brockman" after their grandmother's maiden name.
The Brockman Gallery showed art from many talented artists. Some of these included Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, and Charles White.
In 1973, the brothers also started Brockman Productions. This was a non-profit group. It helped support art in the African-American community.
Alonzo Davis as a Teacher
Alonzo Davis taught art at several schools. He taught at Crenshaw High School until 1970. After that, he taught at places like Manual Arts High School and UCLA.
He also joined a movement led by Ruth G. Waddy. This group worked to get Black art shown in major museums in Los Angeles.
From 1991 to 1992, Davis taught at the San Antonio Art Institute. Later, he became a dean at the Memphis College of Art. He worked there from 1993 to 2002.
Today, there is a special fellowship named after Alonzo Davis. It helps writers, composers, and artists of African or Latino backgrounds. This fellowship is offered at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
His Famous Artwork
Alonzo Davis created a large mural called Eye on '84. This mural was part of a project for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Ten murals were commissioned for this event.
Davis's mural was painted on a concrete wall. It was located near the I-110 freeway. It showed symbols that people all over the world would recognize, like the Olympic Rings.
Over time, the mural was damaged by weather. It could not be saved. In 2001, it was painted over.
After living in Los Angeles, Davis moved to Sacramento in 1987. In 1988, he spent time living and working in Hawaii.
