Rowland Abiodun facts for kids
Rowland O. Abiodun, born in 1941, is a professor and author from Nigeria and the United States. He is well-known for his important work in studying African art, especially the art of the Yoruba people. Professor Abiodun currently teaches at Amherst College in Massachusetts. He is the John C. Newton Professor of Art, the History of Art, and Black Studies.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Rowland Abiodun was born in Owo, Nigeria, in 1941. He loved art and learning from a young age. He went to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, where he earned his first degree in Fine Arts in 1965. Later, he moved to Canada to continue his studies. He received his master's degree in Art History from the University of Toronto.
A Career in Art History
Professor Abiodun is an expert in art history. This means he studies art from the past and present to understand its meaning and how it connects to culture. He has written many books and articles about the art created by the Yoruba people. The Yoruba are a large group of people mainly living in modern-day Nigeria and Benin.
Throughout his career, Professor Abiodun has held important roles. He has been a director for the African Studies Association, which is a group that promotes the study of Africa. He also served on the advisory board for the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. This museum is a very important place for African art in the United States.
Amazing Art Exhibitions
Professor Abiodun has helped create several big art shows in the United States. These shows allowed many people to see beautiful African artworks.
- Artist as Explorer: African Art from the Walt Disney-Tishman Collection: This exhibition showed art from a special collection owned by Walt Disney. It was displayed at the National Geographic Society's Explorer Hall. This happened two years before the Smithsonian museum bought the entire Disney-Tishman Collection.
- Yoruba: Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought: Professor Abiodun helped organize this exhibition with other experts. It featured artworks from places like Lagos and Ifẹ in Nigeria. Some of these artworks had never been seen in the United States before! The show was displayed at the Center for African Art and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Awards and Recognition
In 2011, Professor Abiodun received a special honor called the ACASA Leadership Award. This award is given to people who have shown great skill and vision in studying African art. It celebrates those who have helped the field of African art studies grow and become better.
