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The Need to
Create
Illustrations and Books
Bryan Collier
May 1
- June 28, 2003
Lobby Gallery, Balcony Cases
Collier is the recipient of many prestigious awards including the Ezra
Jack Keats New Illustrator Award, a Caldecott Medal and two Coretta
Scott King Awards. Collier’s art highlights children in their
neighborhoods in contemporary settings. For this exhibition, Collier
will show 25 pieces along with some of the books that show the final
printed images with the text. The exhibition will focus on original
collages he has done for children’s books and include works including,
“Sang Like Love, Cried Like Blues” from Visiting Langston written by
Willie Perdomo and “Shake You Wide Awake” from, These Hands written by
Hope Lynne Price.
Collier has a unique technique of combining watercolor, collage and
scratchboard in vibrant rich hues. He blends realism with abstract
qualities to create evocative works to which viewers experience strong
emotional responses. Collier comments that, “Collage is about bringing
different elements together. Once you form a sensibility about
connection, you deepen your understanding of yourself and others.”
A native of Pocomoke City, Maryland, Collier attributes his pursuit of
art to the encouragement he received from both his family and his school
teachers while growing up. Collier’s first recognition came in 1985 when
he won a national competition and his art was displayed in the Capitol
Building in Washington, D.C. Later that year he received a scholarship
to Pratt Institute in New York City, and four years later he received a
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with honors.
While at college, Collier volunteered at Harlem Hospital’s Horizon Art
Studio in a program that provided working space and materials for
self-taught artists in the community. He believes the Studio offered an
opportunity for the community, the schools, the kids, and the parents to
come together for a very positive and uplifting cause – that of
“building and re-building self-esteem.” Collier became the Horizon Art
Studio’s Program Director and held the position for 12 years.
Collier now focuses his attention on book illustrating and writing. He
still volunteers at the Harlem Hospital Center and seeks to be a
positive role model for children through actively working in schools.
Collier has intimated that his art provides a deeper understanding of
the world about him. He says, “…it’s not about formal training …It’s
about the need to create; to answer inner, spiritual questions about
yourself.”
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(Click to enlarge)
"Freedom River"
"Visiting Langston"
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