Rushern Baker IV facts for kids
Rushern "Rush" Baker IV, born on September 10, 1987, is an American artist. He is known for his paintings and has also been involved in politics. He once ran to be a lawmaker in the Maryland House of Delegates for Prince George's County, Maryland.
Growing Up and School
Rushern Baker IV was born in Washington, DC on September 10, 1987. His father is Rushern L. Baker, III, who was a leader for Prince George's County. His mother is Christa Beverly. When he was four, his family moved to Cheverly, Maryland.
Rush went to public schools in Prince George's County. He graduated from Suitland High School in Forestville, Maryland. He then studied art at college. In 2009, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Cooper Union. He continued his studies at Yale University, getting a Master of Fine Arts degree in 2012. At Yale, he won an award for his excellent drawing and painting.
His Art Career
After finishing Yale, Rush Baker IV moved back to Prince George's County. He works as an artist on his own. His art often shows ideas about politics. People have said his work is inspired by the science fiction books of author Octavia E. Butler, especially her ideas about the future, called Afrofuturism.
In 2013, Rush said he wants his paintings to make people talk about important topics, especially how countries deal with each other. His artwork has been shown in many places. These include exhibitions in Maryland, DC, New York, California, and even in Dubai and Japan.
Today, he teaches drawing and design at the University of Maryland. Before this, he helped run a mobile art program for young people. He also used to be an artist-in-residence at 39th Street Gallery in Brentwood, Maryland. This means he worked there as an artist for a period of time.
In 2019, an art critic wrote about Rush's art show in Washington, DC. The critic said his energetic paintings make you think about many things. These include challenges faced by Black people and the growing gap between rich and poor.
Political Involvement
In June 2022, Rush Baker IV became the campaign manager for his father's campaign. His father was running to be the governor of Maryland. However, his father stopped his campaign later that month.
In January 2023, Rush decided to run for a spot in the Maryland House of Delegates. This was to fill a vacant seat in District 22. But on February 8, he announced he would no longer run.
Later, Rush Baker IV was chosen as a delegate for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He supported Kamala Harris at this event.
