Cullen Washington Jr. facts for kids

Cullen Washington, Jr. (born 1972) is an African-American contemporary abstract painter. Washington lives and works in New York.

Early Life and Learning

Cullen Washington, Jr. was born in Alexandria, Louisiana in 1972. When he was a child, he really liked science. But he also knew from a young age that he wanted to be an artist.

He grew up in a very supportive family. His parents and two sisters always encouraged him to develop his art skills. When he was just 9 years old, he had his first art show at his elementary school in Alexandria. This made him even more interested in art!

Later, he went to college to study art. He earned his first degree from Louisiana State University. Then, he got his Master of Fine Arts degree from Tufts University/School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

His Art Career

Art Shows and Exhibitions

Cullen Washington, Jr.'s artwork has been shown in many important places. These include The Studio Museum in Harlem in New York and The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. His art has also been seen at the Saatchi Gallery in London and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

From January to March 2020, the University of Michigan Museum of Art had a special show of his work. It was called Cullen Washington, Jr.: The Public Square. The show was planned to last longer, but the museum had to close in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, the museum put his artwork online so people could still see it from home.

Artist Residencies

An artist residency is a special program where artists can live and work for a period of time. It gives them space and time to focus on their art. Washington has been an artist in residence at several places. These include Amherst College (from 2016 to 2017), The Studio Museum in Harlem (2013), and Yaddo (2011). He also attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 2010.

What is His Art Style Like?

Cullen Washington, Jr. is known for his abstract paintings. Abstract art does not try to show real objects or people. Instead, it uses shapes, colors, and textures to create feelings or ideas.

Washington often uses many different materials in his paintings. Some of these include tape, canvas, and acrylic paint. He also uses charcoal dust, black chalkboard paint, and paper. Other materials he has used are black copier toner, rubber, wire, and even earphone cushions! He describes his work as "non-representational," which means it doesn't represent things you can easily recognize.