George Gadson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Gadson
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | August 10, 1953 |
| Education | BA in Theology MA in Education |
| Alma mater | Duke University Brewer Christian College |
| Occupation |
|
| Known for |
|
|
Notable work
|
The Kicker (1995) The Quarterback (1999) |
George Gadson was born on August 10, 1953. He is an American artist who lives in South Florida. He is known for his amazing sculptures, paintings, and photographs. You can see his sculptures in many public places across Florida. Some are at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale and Florida Memorial University in Miami.
George Gadson also created special sculptures for two Super Bowls in the 1990s. These were called The Kicker and The Quarterback. In 2008, he designed an ornament for the White House Christmas tree. Later, in 2018, he made a sculpture for famous NFL player Ray Lewis. George Gadson owns George Gadson Studios, where he also helps with public art projects.
Contents
George Gadson's Early Life and Learning
George Gadson grew up in Fort Meade, Florida. When he was in high school, he worked at a bank. He was also very active in his Baptist church.
He went to Duke University and finished in 1975. He earned a degree in theology, which is the study of religious beliefs. He also spent some time studying in Valencia, Spain. Later, he earned a master's degree in education from Brewer Christian College.
George Gadson's Art Career
After college, George Gadson first worked in banking. In 1989, he started his own business helping people get home loans. In the early 1980s, he began taking art classes. This is where he discovered his love for painting, sculpting, and photography.
His paintings often show portraits and scenes from the daily lives of African-Americans and Native Americans. His art started appearing in galleries in Tampa and Miami in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Creating Art for Sports and Public Spaces
In 1994, Gadson gave a painting of 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 and league officials. It celebrated Super Bowl XXIX in Miami.
After this, he started getting many requests for public and private art projects. Some of these were for Jim Moran of JM Family Enterprises.
In 1996, Gadson's paintings were shown at an art show at the museum of the Old Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale. In 1999, he made another sculpture for the Super Bowl in Miami. This was a bronze statue of a quarterback, called The Quarterback, which was also given to team owners.
Important Public Artworks
In 2002, a sculpture by Gadson called The Bridge was placed at the new African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale. It looked like a drum. In 2003, he created a bronze statue of civil rights leader Spencer Pompey. This statue is on display at Delray Beach City Hall.
An art show called Then & Now featured Gadson's paintings, sculptures, and photographs in January 2004. It was held at the Old Davie School Museum Gallery.
In March 2006, Gadson's Lift Ev'ry Voice was shown at Florida Memorial University. This is a bronze statue of an African-American woman. That same year, he also made a sculpture to honor the Tuskegee Airmen. These were brave 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 helping with public art projects.
Recent Works and Exhibitions
In 2013, Gadson released a book called Art Psalms. It was a collection of his artwork and poems. By 2014, he had created more public art pieces. These included Equality for the Urban League of Broward County. He also made art for the cities of Lauderdale Lakes, Pompano Beach, and Boynton Beach. He was also in charge of the Public Art Committee in Tamarac.
In 2014, he had an art show 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 special bird from African stories. It was placed in Sistrunk Park in Fort Lauderdale. In 2018, Gadson made a statue as a gift for former NFL player Ray Lewis in Lakeland, Florida.
In 2019, Gadson had another solo art show called About Faces. It was also at the Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery. In 2020, he took part in a group art show 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. This sculpture replaced an old monument that had been removed. In August 2024, Gadson's Museum without Walls – An Ancestral Tribute was shown at Shady Park at Hannibal Square. This memorial includes busts, a wall with important dates, and a shield with ram horns.
