ON VIEW IN THE GALLERY
THE WOMEN, THE PAPER, AND THE LIGHT
A Portrait Art Show by George C. Jennings Jr.
September 11, 2024 - February 2, 2025
Celebrating the Beauty and Legacy of Black Women in Fine Art
In an art world where barriers often prevent Black artists from thriving and where outdated beliefs have questioned the beauty and place of Black women in fine art, George Jennings' latest exhibit boldly challenges and dismantles these narratives.
Through his unique style and profound artistic skill, Jennings captures the unmatched beauty, class, and elegance of Black women, offering a powerful counter-narrative that demands recognition and celebration.
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Jennings, an alumnus of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, was fortunate to grow up surrounded by fine art depicting Black people. He not only presents his collection of paintings in this exhibit but also includes a selection of his grandfather's works, honoring their family's Black fine art legacy and sharing it with the world. This exhibition stands as a testament to the beauty, resilience, and artistic excellence of Black women and artists, past and present.
MEET THE ARTIST
George Jennings is a fine art painter, best known for his portraits of women and children, who are not commonly centered in mainstream art. Formative close relationships with his grandmother, mother, and sister, and in adulthood, with his wife, have contributed greatly to his consistent focus on the diverse beauty of women.
His grandfather, the late visual artist, John N. Robinson (1912-1994) was his first art instructor and George went on to attend and is now an alum of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (Washington, DC). After completing high school, he went on to serve in the U. S. Air Force and the U. S. Secret Service before moving to Seattle in 1997.
Shortly after his cross country move, George decided to forge his own path as an independent visual artist. With the help of his wife/manager, he has been able to build an art career filled with group and solo exhibits, speaking engagements, workshop presentations, and being invited to be a guest instructor for both the Bellevue Art Museum, the Gage Academy of the Arts and the Northwest African American Museum. George has also been commissioned for a variety of projects, produced a line of greeting cards and has had his various commercial products sold in dozens of gift shops, galleries and museums throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
He has primarily created his paintings using oil and acrylic, however, in the last few years he has transitioned his art practice from using his traditional art skills to creating with modern, digital, tools.
His canvas is now glass, and his brush is now a digital pencil. There is no photo manipulation involved as he still creates a detailed underdrawing of each piece and then he layers in colors to create the final product.
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Learn more about George on his website.