Turtel Onli facts for kids

Turtel Onli (January 25, 1952 – January 15, 2025) was an American artist, writer, and publisher. He was also a businessman, art therapist, and teacher.

Throughout his career, Onli worked in many art forms. These included painting, drawing, illustration, and fashion. He also created comic books and graphic novels. Some of his well-known works are NOG, Protector of the Pyramids and Malcolm 10. He is known as the "Father" of the "Black Age of Comics." This movement helps create and support comic books that focus on African culture. Onli also created his own art style called "Rhythmism." This style mixes old and new ideas. He taught art in Chicago public schools for over 20 years.

Turtel Onli's Life Story

Early Life and School

Turtel Onli was born on January 25, 1952. He studied art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree there. Later, he went back to the Art Institute. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Art Therapy. He also studied in Paris, France, at The Sorbonne.

His Career

In 1970, Onli started the Black Arts Guild (BAG). This group held art shows and published works by its members. In 1974, he published Funk Book and greeting cards with BAG. He also created early comic magazines called zines. One was PAPER in 1980. Another was Future Funk in the early 1980s.

Onli created illustrations for many companies. These included Chicago Magazine and McDonald's. His art is also in important collections. These include the Chicago Children's Museum. He sold his first painting to Johnson Publishing Company when he was only 19.

Onli was a visiting artist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2005, he helped put together an art show. It featured his own paintings and works by his grandfather. In 2010, he opened his new Onli Studios in Chicago.

As an Educator

From 1984 to 1989, Onli worked as an art therapist. He helped young people in Chicago. He also taught art in the Chicago Public Schools.

Onli taught at Columbia College Chicago. He was also a professor at Harold Washington College. He taught about art and drawing. He founded the Black Arts Guild (B.A.G.). This group helped young artists explore different art forms.

His Comics Work

Turtel Onli created characters that were inspired by African culture. He called his style "Rhythmistic." His characters often showed good guys fighting bad guys. They represented his belief that strong people should protect the weak.

One of his first characters was NOG, Nubian of Greatness. NOG was one of the earliest comic book characters focused on African culture. NOG first appeared in the Chicago Defender newspaper in 1979. Later, NOG had his own comic book, NOG, Protector of the Pyramides, from 1981-82. NOG returned in new comics in 1994 and 2011.

Black Age of Comics

In 1993, Onli started the first Black Age of Comics convention. It was held in Chicago. This event brought together creators and fans of comics focused on African culture. Since then, Black Age of Comics conventions have been held in many cities. These include Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.

His Passing

Turtel Onli passed away on January 15, 2025. He was 72 years old.

Awards and Recognitions

• 2006: Glyph Comics Awards Pioneer Award – for bringing positive and diverse images to comic books and graphic novels.

His Art Exhibitions

Exhibitions

• 1977: Second World Festival of Black and African Art and Culture (Lagos, Nigeria) – group show
• 1991: Prairie Avenue Gallery (Chicago, Illinois) – "The Return of Watermelon: The Redefining of a Stereotype" – group show
• 2001: The African American Cultural Center (Chicago)
• 2005: Center for the Visual and Performing Arts (Munster, Indiana) – “Reverend Phillips and Turtel Onli: An Artistic and Spiritual Legacy”
• 2006: The Kennedy Center – "Turtel Onli as a Tortellini"
• 2007: "Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet Chicago" group show – "It'z A Rhythmsitic World. Never Boring!!!"
• 2011: Tubman African American Museum (Macon, Georgia) – "Afro Futurism in the Visual Arts" – group show
• 2011: ETA Creative Arts Foundation (Chicago) – “Passion Fruit: The Other Chicago Black Movement” – solo exhibition
• 2013: DuSable Museum of African American History (Chicago) – "AFRICOBRA: Art and Impact" – group show
• 2015: Harold Washington Library Center (Chicago) – Rhythmistic Journey: The Art Enterprises of Turtel Onli
• 2020: Hyde Park Arts Center (Chicago) "Rhythmistic Residency"
• 2024: Cafe Logan at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts (Chicago)