George Gadson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Gadson
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| Born | August 10, 1953 |
| Education | BA in Theology MA in Education |
| Alma mater | Duke University Brewer Christian College |
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Notable work
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The Kicker (1995) The Quarterback (1999) |
George Gadson (born August 10, 1953) is an American artist. He is known for his sculptures, paintings, and photographs. George Gadson lives and works in South Florida.
Many of his sculptures are public artworks. You can see them in different places across Florida. These include the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale and Florida Memorial University in Miami.
In the 1990s, he made special sculptures for two Super Bowls held in Florida. One was called The Kicker and the other The Quarterback. In 2008, he designed an ornament for the White House Christmas tree. Later, in 2018, he created a sculpture for NFL football player Ray Lewis. George Gadson also owns George Gadson Studios, where he helps with public art projects.
Early life and education
George Gadson grew up in Fort Meade, Florida. When he was in high school, he worked at a bank. He was also active in his Baptist church.
He went to Duke University and graduated in 1975. He earned a degree in theology, which is the study of religious beliefs. He also studied for a time in Valencia, Spain. Later, he earned a master's degree in education from Brewer Christian College.
Career as an artist
After college, Gadson worked in the banking world. In 1989, he started his own business in North Miami. In the early 1980s, he began taking art classes. This is where he found his love for painting, sculpting, and photography.
His paintings often show portraits and scenes from daily life. Many of these focus on African-American and Native American experiences. His art started appearing in galleries in Tampa and Miami in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In 1994, Gadson gave a portrait of famous football player Dan Marino to a charity event. The next year, he was asked to create a special sculpture for NFL team owners. This bronze sculpture, called The Kicker, was given to about 100 team owners. It celebrated Super Bowl XXIX in Miami.
Soon after, he started getting more requests for public and private art projects. Some of these were for important business leaders like Jim Moran.
Public art projects
In 1996, Gadson's paintings were shown at an exhibition. This was at the museum of the Old Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale. This school was once for Black students.
In 1999, Gadson made another sculpture for the Super Bowl in Miami. He created a bronze statue of a quarterback. This sculpture, called The Quarterback, was also given to team owners.
In 2002, a sculpture by Gadson was placed at the new African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. It was a drum called The Bridge. In 2003, he made a bronze bust (a sculpture of a head and shoulders) of civil rights activist Spencer Pompey. This bust is in Delray Beach City Hall.
An art show of Gadson's work, called Then & Now, happened in January 2004. It was held at the Old Davie School Museum Gallery. The show featured his paintings, sculptures, and photographs.
In 2006, Gadson's bronze statue Lift Ev'ry Voice was shown. It shows an African-American woman. This statue is at the Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts at Florida Memorial University. That same year, he created a sculpture to honor the Tuskegee Airmen. They were a group of African-American military pilots who fought in World War II.
In 2008, he created an ornament for the White House Christmas tree. By this time, he had started George Gadson Studios in Hollywood, Florida. He also began advising on public art projects.
In 2013, Gadson released a book called Art Psalms. It is a collection of his artwork and poetry. By 2014, he had made more public art pieces. These included Equality for the Urban League of Broward County. He also created art for the cities of Lauderdale Lakes, Pompano Beach, and Boynton Beach.
In 2014, he had an exhibition called Naturally Morphic. It was at the Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery. This show featured art made from natural materials and photographs.
In 2015, he was asked to create a sculpture of the Sankofa bird. This is a mythical bird from Ghana. The sculpture is in Sistrunk Park in Fort Lauderdale. In 2018, Gadson sculpted a statue as a gift for former NFL linebacker Ray Lewis. This statue is in Lewis's hometown of Lakeland, Florida.
In 2019, Gadson had another solo exhibition called About Faces. It was also at the Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery. In 2020, he took part in a group art show. It was called Roots of the Spirit: Soulful Expressions of the African Diaspora. In 2021, Gadson was asked to create a statue for a new YMCA building in Fort Lauderdale.
In 2023, Gadson created a sculpture called Sankofa. It honored Patricia Hilliard-Nunn, an activist and professor. It was placed in Gainesville, Florida on Juneteenth in 2023. It replaced an old Confederate monument.
In August 2024, Gadson's Museum without Walls – An Ancestral Tribute was shown. This memorial is at Shady Park at Hannibal Square. It includes busts, a wall with notes about the park's history, and a shield with ram horns.
