Ronald Joseph (artist) facts for kids

Ronald Joseph (1910–1992) was an amazing African-American artist, teacher, and printmaker. He was known for his unique abstract art and his skill in making prints. Joseph's journey took him from the Caribbean to New York, and then to Europe, where he continued to create beautiful artworks.

Ronald Joseph's Early Life and Education

Growing Up in the Caribbean and New York

Ronald Joseph was born in 1910 on the island of St. Kitts in the West Indies. When he was very young, his mother moved to the United States. She couldn't afford to bring him along. A kind couple, Mr. and Mrs. Theophilus Joseph, who were friends of his mother, adopted him.

The Joseph family then moved to the Island of Dominica. They lived there for ten years. In 1921, his foster parents also decided to move to the U.S. In New York, Ronald finally met his birth mother. However, he continued to live with his foster parents.

Discovering His Artistic Talent

In 1926, Ronald Joseph received a special scholarship. This scholarship allowed him to attend the Ethical Culture School. He spent two and a half years of his high school time there. During this period, he earned an art scholarship. He met Dr. Henry Fritz through his public school art teacher.

Joseph joined a Saturday art class. He was the only Black student in the class. He was a very talented young artist. His student artworks were even shown at the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ronald Joseph finished school in 1929. He was honored as "the most promising" young artist in all of New York City's schools. He then started studying at Pratt Institute in 1931 and graduated in 1934.

Life During the 1930s and World War II

During the 1930s and 1940s, Joseph showed his art in many exhibitions. These often featured African-American artists. He also worked on a mural project for the Works Progress Administration. He was part of the Harlem Artists Guild.

When World War II began, Ronald Joseph joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. He worked as a ground crew member. He was stationed in Tuskegee, Alabama, and in Michigan. After the war ended in 1945, he received a G. I. Bill scholarship. This scholarship helped him continue his education.

Traveling and Living Abroad

In 1948, Ronald Joseph received the Rosenwald Fellowship. This special award helped him live and work in other countries. First, he spent two years in Peru. Then, he moved to Paris, France. He used his G.I. Bill scholarship to study art in Paris. He attended the Grande Chaumière. He said this time was great because he didn't have to worry about money.

It's hard to find many records of his art from these travels. Many pieces are not dated or are simply marked "1948-1952." After this time, he returned to New York. He didn't have much money or work. He described this as a difficult period.

In 1956, Ronald Joseph left the U.S. He felt disappointed that his art wasn't getting much attention. He moved to Belgium and later settled in Brussels. He felt a mix of emotions about leaving. He felt a little guilty for leaving when Black people were fighting for civil rights in the U.S. But he also felt "lucky" to live where he didn't feel as much discrimination. Ronald Joseph married Claire Joseph, and they had a son named Robin.

In 1989, Joseph came back to the United States. He had been away for 33 years. He came for an art exhibition and to see old friends. After his visit, he returned to Brussels. He continued to paint there for the rest of his life.

Ronald Joseph's Artistic Journey

Starting in Harlem

Ronald Joseph began his art career in Harlem, New York City. He was one of the youngest students at the Harlem Community Arts Center. Joseph learned about lithography and other printmaking methods. His teacher was Riva Helfond. She taught him many simple techniques. He learned how to use the printing press and prepare the stones.

Helfond was a very important lithography teacher at the Harlem Art Center. Joseph made his first lithographs with her help. At the Harlem Community Arts Center, Joseph met Robert Blackburn. They were classmates. In 1937, Ronald Joseph created a famous lithograph of Blackburn. This artwork is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection.

Joseph and Blackburn explored many printmaking techniques. They tried lithography, etching, woodblock, and silkscreen printing. Joseph said the Harlem Art Center was a "healthy and lively" place. He made wonderful friends there. In the late 1930s, he also taught at the Harlem Community Arts Center. He met younger artists like Jacob Lawrence and Gwendolyn Knight there. They became good friends. They enjoyed talking about art and visiting museums together. Both Joseph and Knight would ask Lawrence to pose for their art. Jacob Lawrence thought Ronald Joseph was a very smart artist.

Guilds and Exhibitions

In the 1930s, Joseph became the chairman of the Harlem Artists Guild. He represented the guild in Washington. He worked with artists like Stuart Davis and Hugo Gellert. Ronald Joseph also took part in the mural section of the WPA. He represented the Harlem Artists' Guild at the New York World's Fair (1939–1940).

His Unique Art Style

Joseph's early oil paintings were inspired by European artists. He liked Picasso and Braque. Many artists at that time focused on "social realism." This style showed real-life problems. But Joseph's art was different. By 1943, an art historian named James Porter called him New York's "foremost Negro abstractionist painter." This meant he was a leading Black artist who created abstract art.

His pastels and gouaches from the late 1940s and early 1950s showed a mix of styles. They had clear, structured abstract shapes. But they also had a feeling of being made freely and without too much planning. Ronald Joseph's detailed abstract works often included real-life objects. He also used "purer" shapes. He described his art by saying, "It's not abstract and abstract at the same time. It's pure creation.” His art from the 1950s used still life and landscapes. These were starting points for his amazing abstract paintings. His style was related to Cubism and Fauvism.

After the War and Moving to Brussels

During World War II, Joseph was drafted into the army. After the war, he formed a group with friends. These friends included Robert Blackburn, Charles White, Larry Potter, and Reginald Gammon. They made woodcuts together. In 1948, after receiving fellowships, he traveled to Peru and then to Paris. His artwork became more and more abstract during this time.

When he came back to New York, he lived in Greenwich Village. He continued to paint, but his art didn't get much attention. In 1956, Ronald Joseph felt discouraged about his place in the U.S. art world. He decided to leave the U.S. for Brussels. He continued his artistic career there.

Exhibitions of Ronald Joseph's Art

• April 16 – May 14, 1937: Exhibition by the Harlem Artists' Guild at the American Artists School
• 1939: Contemporary Negro Art at the Baltimore Museum of Art
• December 9, 1941 – January 3, 1942: American Negro Art: 19th and 20th Centuries at the Downtown Gallery
• 1943: Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
• February 23 – June 6, 1989: Black Printmakers and the WPA at The Lehman College Art Gallery
• February 6, 2010 – July 24, 2010: A Force for Change: African American Art and the Julius Rosenwald Fund at the Montclair Art Museum

Famous Works by Ronald Joseph

• Tenement Window (lithograph) - around 1935, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Robert Blackburn (lithograph) - around 1937, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Country Scene (lithograph) - around 1934–36, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• The Graphic Workshop (lithograph) - around 1935–37, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Under the Elevated (lithograph) - around 1934–36, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Still Life (gouache) - 1950/1954, at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture
• The Family (paper / gouache) - 1953, at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture
• Two Musicians (paper) - 1952/1955, at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture
• Paris Vista (#6) (oil on linen canvas) - 1950-52

Where You Can See His Art

• Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York
• Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, Charlotte, North Carolina