Michael Ray Charles facts for kids

Michael Ray Charles, born in 1967, is an American painter from Lafayette, Louisiana. He is known for his thought-provoking art. In 2018, he won the prestigious Rome Prize for his work.

Early Life and Education

Michael Ray Charles grew up in different places, including Los Angeles, New Orleans, and St. Martinville, Louisiana. He finished high school in 1985. After that, he went to McNeese State University in Louisiana.

He studied design and advertising there. In 1989, he earned his first degree. Later, he went to the University of Houston for more advanced studies. He finished his master's degree in 1993. After his studies, Charles started teaching art at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2014, he moved to teach at the University of Houston.

Exploring History Through Art

Charles's art explores how African Americans have been shown in history. He looks at old, unfair pictures and ideas about Black people. His work also examines how these ideas might have affected how Black people see themselves.

Michael Ray Charles, "(Forever Free) ‘Servin with a smile’," 1994

In his colorful paintings, Charles uses old stereotypes. These include characters like Sambo, Aunt Jemima, and Uncle Tom. He uses them to talk about how people think about race today. His paintings often look old and worn, like vintage advertisements.

He even created a fake product called "Forever Free." This product stands for the empty promises of freedom. It also shows how consumer products sometimes used misleading images of Black people. Charles connects the past and present in his art. He takes old characters and gives them new meanings.

For example, he often uses the image of Aunt Jemima. This character was usually shown as a kind house servant. But in one painting, Charles shows her as a hero. She sits like a queen, suggesting her important but often ignored contributions. Charles believes that by showing these old, hurtful images, he can reveal hidden stereotypes that still exist.

Career Highlights and Achievements

In 1991, Michael Ray Charles had his first art show. It was at the Community Artists' Collective in Houston.

He was one of the first artists featured in the 2001 PBS series "Art:21." This show highlights important artists of our time. In 2003, a magazine called Black Issues In Higher Education named him a top young African-American scholar.

Charles also worked as a consultant for Spike Lee's 2000 film, "Bamboozled." His work has been part of several documentaries. He has also served on important art panels.

His art was shown in the 2006 documentary Race is the Place. It has also been displayed in galleries and museums around the world. These places include Barcelona, Belgium, New York City, and Paris.

His art is in many books, magazines, and newspapers. It is also part of many public and private art collections. Some of these include the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Museum of Modern Art.

Charles continues to show his art in many places. He was a professor at The University of Texas at Austin. In 2014, he became a distinguished professor at the University of Houston School of Art. He lives in Houston, Texas.

In 2019, Charles opened a new exhibition at the UMLAUF in Austin, Texas. This show included his older and newer works. It also featured items from his collection of old racist advertisements.