Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.
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The artist with inky hands at a "Pull-a-Print" event in Wisconsin, 2010.
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| Born |
Lafayette, Louisiana
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| Education | MFA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1997 BS Mathematics, Grambling State University, Louisiana, 1972 |
| Occupation | printer |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Amos III (son), Adric (son) |
Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. (born in 1948) is an American printer and artist. He is famous for his posters that share important social and political messages. People say he is brave enough to ask tough questions about fairness and art.
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About Amos Kennedy
Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. loved letters and books from a young age. He even studied calligraphy, which is the art of beautiful handwriting.
When he was 40, Amos visited Colonial Williamsburg. This is a museum where you can see how people lived long ago. He was amazed by an old-fashioned print shop there. This visit inspired him so much that he learned printing in Chicago. Within a year, he left his job at AT&T, where he had worked for almost 20 years. He decided to become a full-time printer.
Amos loved letterpress printing because it allowed him to make many copies of his messages. He felt it was important to share his ideas widely. He went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a special art degree in 1997. Later, he taught graphic design at Indiana University. Today, his print shop, Kennedy Prints, is in Detroit, Michigan.
How He Makes His Art
Amos Kennedy creates posters and postcards using old-fashioned methods. He uses wooden and metal letters, oil-based inks, and recycled cardboard. Many of his posters are inspired by old sayings, proverbs, or quotes.
He uses hand presses to make his art. His posters are often very colorful and use bold letters. He prints many layers of ink, so no two prints are exactly the same. Even years later, the colors can look wet and shiny.
Messages in His Work
Amos Kennedy grew up during the Civil Rights Era in the 1960s. This was a time when people fought for equal rights for everyone. He uses these important times as inspiration for his art. His work mixes social messages, folk art, and graphic design. This creates powerful pieces that make people think about art and fairness.
Kennedy is known for using big, bold letters and bright colors. He wants his art to catch your eye and inspire others. He taught himself art and has a unique style that is easy to spot. He has always cared deeply about fighting unfairness and promoting equal rights.
He often uses words from famous activists like Rosa Parks. He also shows scenes from peaceful protests, like the Selma to Montgomery marches. He even honors the names of people who lost their lives during these movements. The words themselves are key to his art. They are not just pictures; they carry strong messages. These artworks help people notice unfairness, especially for Black Americans.
Sometimes, his prints look a little uneven. Some letters might be faded or slightly off. This is part of his style. It shows that life and social issues are not always perfect. This imperfect look adds deep feelings to his art. It suggests that big problems cannot always be easily fixed.
Amos Kennedy also creates art about unfair treatment and hurtful ideas. These ideas have historically been used to justify inequality. He believes that art should not just be in museums. He thinks it should be a tool to help communities. He says, "Art has the potential to change society, but only if people are involved in making it."
A study from 2019 showed that many major art museums do not show enough art by African American artists. It found that most art in these museums is by white male artists. This shows why artists like Amos Kennedy are so important. His work helps bring attention to different voices and perspectives in the art world.
Awards and Exhibitions
Amos Kennedy has been invited to be an artist-in-residence at many places. These include the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the University of Virginia.
His art has been shown in many museums and galleries. Some places include the Museum of Modern Art Library and the Institute for Contemporary Art. His work is also kept in the permanent collections of places like the Poster House.
In 2015, Amos Kennedy won a special award called the United States Artists Glasgow Fellow in Crafts. He received a $50,000 prize. In 2021, he was named the Individual Laureate by the American Printing History Association. He also received the Outstanding Printmaker Award in 2022.
Images for kids
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Colorful letterpress posters by Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.
See Also
- Letterpress printing
