Pheoris West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pheoris West
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Pheoris West
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| Born | August 17, 1950 Albany, New York, U.S.
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| Died | January 23, 2021 (aged 70) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Yale University M.F.A. |
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| Years active | 1974–2021 |
| Spouse(s) | Louise Calio (m. 1972; div. 1976) Michele Hoff (m. 1979) |
| Children | three sons (triplets), one daughter |
Pheoris West (born August 17, 1950 – died January 23, 2021) was a talented African-American artist. He was also a professor at Ohio State University College of the Arts. He started teaching there in 1976 and later became an Associate Professor Emeritus.
About Pheoris West's Early Life
Pheoris West was born in 1950 in Albany, New York. He loved art from a young age. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Later, he earned a special art degree called a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University.
His Artistic Journey
West was an expert in painting and drawing. He also knew a lot about computer graphics and design. Some artists who really inspired him early on were Romare Bearden and Henry Ossawa Tanner. He was also influenced by a group of Black artists from the 1970s called AfriCOBRA.
His amazing art has been shown in many places since 1970. You can find his work in famous collections. These include the Studio Museum in Harlem in New York. His art is also in the Museo Civico D’arts Contemporaneo Di Gibilina in Palermo, Italy. The Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati also has his pieces.
West took part in a big art show called “To Conserve a Legacy.” This show featured American art from colleges that were historically for Black students. He also helped organize an art show in 1999. It was called "HOMAGE TO JAZZ" and was held at the Martin Luther King Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Pheoris West saw himself as an Afrocentric artist. This means his art was deeply connected to African culture and history. He didn't follow modern art styles. Instead, he wanted his art to show the importance of a strong, moral society. He also wanted to include cultural traditions.
Africa was a big source of inspiration for his art. His images often combined ideas from African and American cultures. He used old stories, myths, and religious ideas to share a message for everyone.
His favorite subject to paint was the black woman. He saw her as a symbol for Mother Earth. To him, she represented the beginning of humanity. In his painting “The Garden,” he painted Eve as a beautiful black woman. This painting has a special spiritual feeling. It comes from the many layers of images and the perfect balance of colors and shapes.
Exhibitions and Teaching
A special art show called Urban Warriors: A Retrospective showed off his strong and energetic artwork. It was held at the Shot Tower Gallery at Fort Hayes.
Pheoris West taught art at Ohio State University for many years. He taught until March 2016. Sadly, he had a stroke that made it hard for him to continue painting.
In May 2019, there was another art show called Start at Home: Influence, Commitment, Integrity. It was at the Urban Arts Space at Ohio State University. This show featured 143 artworks. These were by H. Ike Okafor-Newsum, Robert J. Stull, and Pheoris West. All three artists had taught at Ohio State. Even though he could no longer paint, West attended the exhibit. He was happy to greet the people who came to see the art.
