Dewey Crumpler facts for kids

Dewey Crumpler (born in 1949) is an American artist and teacher. He is famous for his amazing paintings and murals. For many years, he taught art at the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI).

Dewey Crumpler's art has been shown all over the United States and in other countries. You can find his work in important museums. These include the Oakland Museum of California, the Triton Museum of Art, and the California African American Museum. He has also won several special awards for his art. In 2017, a picture of his murals was even part of a big art show in London at the Tate Modern museum.

Early Life and Learning

Dewey Crumpler was born in 1949 in Magnolia, Arkansas. He grew up in Hunters Point, a neighborhood in San Francisco. This area has a rich history for Black families. He went to Balboa High School, which was a special school for arts. He finished high school in 1967.

During his youth, Dewey was involved in the Civil Rights Movement. This movement worked for equal rights for all people. He showed his artwork around the city. He even met Emory Douglas, an artist from the Black Panther Party. Dewey and Emory were part of a group of artists who met at Evangeline Montgomery's home.

Dewey Crumpler studied art at several universities. He earned his first art degree (BFA) from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1972. He then got a master's degree (MA) from San Francisco State University in 1974. Later, in 1989, he earned another master's degree (MFA) from Mills College. He also traveled to Mexico City in 1974. There, he learned how to paint large murals from famous artists like Pablo O’Higgins and David Alfaro Siquieros.

Dewey Crumpler's Career

Teaching Art to Students

In 1974, Dewey Crumpler was asked to paint a mural for the San Francisco Unified School District. He sought advice from the artist Elizabeth Catlett. She helped him connect with famous muralists. Years later, he spoke at an event honoring Catlett at the De Young Museum.

Dewey Crumpler became a professor at the San Francisco Art Institute. He taught both art history and studio art. Many of his students became well-known artists. One of his most famous students is Kehinde Wiley. Wiley is known for painting the official portrait of former President Barack Obama. Dewey Crumpler started teaching at SFAI in 1989. He was an associate professor of painting there.

His Amazing Artwork

Dewey Crumpler's paintings and murals are part of permanent collections. This means they are always on display or kept by museums. You can see his art at the Oakland Museum of California. His work is also at the Triton Museum of Art and the California African American Museum.

The George Washington High School Mural

In 1936, an artist named Victor Arnautoff painted a large mural. It was for George Washington High School in San Francisco. This mural, called Life of Washington, showed scenes of slavery. It also showed settlers stepping over a dead Native American.

Dewey Crumpler first saw this mural when he was a high school student. He was impressed by how big it was. But he didn't like how it showed African Americans and Native Americans. A few years later, when he was 18 or 19, he was chosen for a special project. Students were upset about Arnautoff's mural. So, Dewey was asked to paint a new mural in response.

To get ready, Dewey traveled around the country. His father worked for Pan American World Airways, which helped him travel. He looked at different murals and talked to artists like William Walker. Then he went to Mexico and got advice from artist Elizabeth Catlett. In Mexico, he also met Pablo O’Higgins and David Alfaro Siqueiros. After learning from O'Higgins, Dewey began to see Arnautoff's mural differently. He realized it was a way to critique George Washington, not just celebrate him.

After getting many approvals, Dewey painted his mural. It was called Multi-Ethnic Heritage. This mural showed Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and African Americans in strong, positive ways. It included important historical figures like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. In 2019, the San Francisco School Board thought about removing Arnautoff's murals. Dewey Crumpler spoke out against this idea.

Notable Art Shows

• 1987 – The Ethnic Idea, an exhibition featuring many artists, at the Berkeley Art Center, California.
• 2018 – Collapse: Recent Works by Dewey Crumpler (a solo show), at Hedreen Gallery, Seattle, Washington.

Awards and Recognitions

Dewey Crumpler has received many awards for his contributions to art:

• 1967 – Honorary Resolution Award from the Mayor's Office, San Francisco.
• 1967 – Honorary Citation from the California State Assembly.
• 1969 – Purchase Award from the Arts Commission, San Francisco.
• 1975 – Outstanding Achievement Award from the National Conference of Artists.
• 1978–1977 – Purchase Awards from the Airports Commission and Fillmore-Fell Gallery, San Francisco.
• 1985–1982 – Grant Award from the California Arts Council.
• 1991 – Honored Artist Award from the Pro Art Annual Exhibition, Oakland.
• 1992 – Eureka Fellowship Award from the Fleishhacker Foundation.
• 1995 – Fellowship Grant Award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
• 2005–2006 – Visual Artist Award from the Flintridge Foundation.