Rodney Ewing facts for kids

Rodney Ewing, born in 1964, is an African-American artist. He creates art using many different types of materials and ideas. He lives in New York City as of 2022. Before that, he lived in San Francisco, California.

Early Life and Education

Rodney Ewing was born in 1964 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His father was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He also served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Rodney Ewing also served in the military. He is a veteran of Desert Storm.

Ewing's father first showed him art through comic books. Ewing also shared that his schools had strong art programs. He earned his first art degree, a Bachelor of Fine Art, in Printmaking in 1989. He studied at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Later, he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in Printmaking in 1992. This was from West Virginia University in Morgantown.

His Art and Ideas

Rodney Ewing's art explores many important topics. These include who we are, stories, history, and how people move from place to place. He also looks at how people can be hurt or treated unfairly. Ewing does a lot of research for his artwork. He often uses old objects that people might not know about anymore. He also uses real stories from people's lives.

Ewing's art shows the feelings and meanings behind these topics. He often mixes historical pictures of old items or people who faced violence. He also adds quotes from different writers. Sometimes, these quotes are partly hidden by the images. This makes looking at his art a unique experience. He uses different ways to draw you into his art. He wants you to think deeply about the images, words, and ideas.

Ewing's art has been inspired by many people and events. These include writers like James Baldwin and Colson Whitehead. He has also referenced historical figures like Henry Box Brown and George Stinney. Other inspirations include photographer Charles Moore. He also explores events like San Francisco Redevelopment after Japanese Internment. His art is found in major museum collections. These include the Harvard Art Museums and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Exhibitions and Art Projects

Rodney Ewing has shown his art in many places. He has also been an artist-in-residence. This means he spent time at a place creating art. Here are some of his important exhibitions and residencies:

• 2020, Close to Home, Creativity in Crisis, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, California
• 2019, Project Space: Headlands Center for the Arts, Marin County, California
• 2019, Museum of the African Diaspora, Smithsonian Museum Affiliate, San Francisco, California
• 2018, Artifacts: On War & Survival at the National Veterans Art Museum, Chicago, Illinois
• 2018, Djerassi Artists Residency, Woodside, California
• 2017–2018, artist residency, Recology, San Francisco, California
• 2015, artist-in-residency at de Young Museum, San Francisco, California

Selected Artworks

Here are some examples of Rodney Ewing's art pieces:

• Sum of My Father (2018): This is a sculpture. It is made from wool military blankets. It also has silkscreen prints and engraved name plates.
• Between Worlds: Portals (2016): This art piece is an installation. It uses doors, windows, and words. It explores the history of how African Americans were moved from their homes. It also shows their strength to overcome challenges.
• Longitude and Latitude (2019): This work explores the maps and memories of important historical and social events.