Bill Gaskins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Gaskins
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| Born | May 25, 1953 |
| Nationality | American |
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| Occupation | photographer, scholar |
| Spouse(s) | Noliwe Rooks |
Bill Gaskins (born May 25, 1953) is an American photographer and teacher. He takes pictures that explore how hair, especially black hair, connects to identity and culture. His photos also make people think about how we see and show people in pictures today. In his book Good And Bad Hair: Photographs, he looks at how hairstyles are important in African American culture. He also explores how hair, jewelry, and personal style help people show who they are.
Contents
Life and Education
Bill Gaskins studied art at several universities. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Tyler School of Art. He also received Master's degrees from The Ohio State University and the Maryland Institute College of Art. In 2008, he was an Artist-in-Residence at the McColl Center for Art + Innovation. This means he spent time there creating art.
Teaching and Academic Work
Bill Gaskins has taught at several well-known universities. He taught in the American Studies Program and the Department of Art at Cornell University. He also taught at Parsons the New School. His classes often focus on how race and visual images show black people, especially black women. He also teaches workshops about the history of photography.
His Photography Work
Bill Gaskins has shown his photographs in many places. His work has been part of group shows at museums like the Jersey City Museum. His short film, The Meaning of Hope, was also shown at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
The Cadillac Chronicles
One of his photo series is called The Cadillac Chronicles. These pictures show black men with their Cadillac cars. This idea came from a special event in Baltimore called the Cadillac Parade. The series explores how the Cadillac car can be a symbol of male power and a sign of being middle-class.
Good and Bad Hair Book
His book Good and Bad Hair came out in 1997. It features many photographs of African American hairstyles. The book was based on an art show from 1996.
Other Exhibitions
In 2003, his work was part of a group show called HairStories. This show was at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. One of his photos, "Tireka and Tamana, Easter Sunday, Baltimore, Maryland," was highlighted. It showed two women against a city background. Critics said his photos of African-American hair shows were "the most fascinating" in the exhibition.
The photo "Tamara and Tireka" was also shown in a Smithsonian Institution exhibition. This show was called Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present.
In 2017, Gaskins spent time researching "The Black Photographers Annual." This was a collection of four books published between 1973 and 1980.
Selected Essays
Bill Gaskins has also written articles about art and photography. Here are a few examples:
- “Anthony Barboza in Conversation with Bill Gaskins.” This article was in a journal called Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art in 2015.
- Gaskins, Bill. “Sonya Clark.” This essay was published in New Art Examiner in 1997.
- Gaskins, Bill. “Richard Hunt.” This article was also in New Art Examiner in 1997.
Exhibitions of His Photography
Gaskins' photographs have been shown in many exhibitions. Here are some of them:
| Year | Title | Location | Notes |
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| 2022 | A Picture Gallery of the Soul | Katherine E. Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota | This show included 111 photographers, like Gaskins (with photos from The Cadillac Chronicles), Dawoud Bey, and Carrie Mae Weems. |
| 2022 | Black Mystery Month | Clifford Gallery, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY | This was a solo show for Gaskins. It featured 30 black and white photos of people important to African American culture. |
| 2016 | Framing Beauty: Intimate Visions | The Grunwald Gallery, Indiana University | This show was put together by Deborah Willis. It included Gaskins, Omar Victor Diop, Gordon Parks, and others. |
| 2012 | Wounding the Black Male: Photographs from Light Work Collection | Light Work, Syracuse, NY | This exhibition featured photographers like Gaskins, Renee Cox, and Hank Willis Thomas. |
| 2001 | Committed to the Image: Contemporary Black Photographers | Brooklyn Museum of Art | This show included works by 94 photographers, such as Gaskins, Anthony Barboza, and Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe. |
| 2000 | Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present | Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C. | This exhibition was also put together by Deborah Willis. |
Collections
- Sprint Corporation Art Collection. This company owns some of Gaskins' art, including "Exercising Benefits" (2002). This piece has three sets of pictures surrounded by photos of Sprint employees using the company's gym.
