In creating The Black Male Artist Professor Series, I am determined to showcase and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of Black male visual artists & art education professors who have made significant contributions to the art world or art education. These individuals have taught or are currently teaching in visual art or art education programs at art colleges and other colleges and universities in the United States, where Black people have historically been denied admission, teaching, and leadership positions because of their race. This portrait painting series captures the symbolic significance of these figures in the visual arts & art education environments, where they are positioned in higher education institutions as symbols of success, visibility, mentorship, and leadership. This collection of paintings offers an educational opportunity to the global art and art education community.

Through portraiture, this series explores the symbolic significance of these individuals as educators, artists, scholars, and leaders whose presence within higher education has helped reshape the cultural and academic landscape. The paintings position these artist-professors as symbols of achievement, visibility, mentorship, resilience, and leadership, while acknowledging their role in expanding opportunities for future generations of artists and educators.

By documenting and honoring their contributions, this collection serves as both an artistic and educational resource, offering the global visual art and art education communities an opportunity to engage with the histories, legacies, and ongoing impact of Black male artist-professors in American higher education.