Monjett Graham
 |
Monjett Graham | |
|---|---|
 Monjett Graham (2012) | |
| Born | Monjett Willis Graham 1946 (age 79–80) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Education | University of Nebraska–Lincoln (BA), Lone Mountain College (MA) |
| Occupation | Visual artist |
| Known for | Painting, printmaking, mixed media collage, comics |
| Website | Official website |
Monjett Graham (born 1946) is an American contemporary visual artist and writer. His work addresses topics such as spirituality and African American history.[1] Graham is known for his paintings, prints, and mixed media collage work.
Early life and education
[edit]Monjett Graham, was born in 1946, in Omaha, Nebraska.[citation needed] His father was Richard Graham, a government meat inspector.[2] He graduated in 1964 from Omaha North High School.[3]
Graham obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.[1] Graham then went on to complete his Masters degree in psychology and art in 1974 from the Lone Mountain College.[citation needed] Graham continued his education at the University of Toronto, the San Francisco Art Institute, and the Academy of Art University.[citation needed]
1970s
[edit]Graham moved to San Francisco, California in October 1969, from Omaha, Nebraska.[citation needed] In the early 1970s he wrote a regular column on culture for the Sun-Reporter, an African American newspaper in San Francisco. He also contributed artwork to The Rip Off Review of Western Culture magazine comic; two pieces were published in the first issue. The first drawing was entitled "Urban Mood" created with a single woodcut and pencil. The second drawing was created with woodcuts only, three soldiers, entitled "Occupation". The subject matter, at that time was social commentary and surrealistic landscapes.
In 1970, Graham had his first one man exhibition, The Fire Cycle at Lone Mountain College in San Francisco.[4] Graham became an exhibiting member of the BlackMan's Art Gallery on Haight Street in San Francisco, which was the first African American owned art gallery in Northern California.[5]
Fantasy Landscapes
In 1976, Graham moved from San Francisco to Sausalito, California, and then a year later moved to Mill Valley, California.[citation needed] In the mid-1970s Graham started "Fantasy Landscapes" series, which consisted of exotic or mysterious landscapes often punctuated by temples, pyramids or ancient buildings.[citation needed] Sometimes these paintings were accented with a single expressive character to embellish the scenario with specific attitude.[citation needed]
1980s
[edit]Graham created portraits of historical, military leaders from around the world, using pencil and conte as a medium. These drawings were then applied to T-shirts and sportswear via silk screen. This fashioned a marketable commodity, which involved a mail order business, complete with a color catalogue, that supplied retail buyers and sports shops across America. The business, incorporated in 1981, known as the "California Corporation" advertised in major nationwide magazines such as Soldier of Fortune, American Handgunner and Guns and Ammo. Eventually, it also included illustrations of warplanes and military vehicles. The business due to increased competition, ended in the late 1980s. During this time Graham also expanded his artwork to a mixed media collage technique, which he used paper, thin bits of fabric on canvas. He would then experiment with larger objects, such as wood panel, leather, metal and plastic parts, as well as boots, and entire pieces of clothing. Starting out as abstract imagery, Monjett's mixed media collage technique evolved into illustrating animals and a variety of scenarios involving the human form.[citation needed]
1990s
[edit]Graham created several series of mixed media collage paintings throughout the 1990s.[citation needed] The first completed series was the "Music Series" which was first exhibited in 1991 at the Piazza Gallery in Sausalito, California.[citation needed] This is an ongoing series still in production, which portrays music in the United States as medium of stage entertainment. Other series done in the mixed media collage technique were the "Religion Series" and the "Sports Series" and the "Black Holocaust" series. The "Black Holocaust" series was exhibited in 1995 at Jahn Arts International in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The series illustrated the historical narrative of the West African slave trade.[citation needed]
Early 2000 works of art
[edit]Graham has worked on the "Music Series" mixed media collage paintings and completed a series of paintings entitled "2010" which are all abstract expressionist paintings on canvas.[citation needed] Graham uses only three colors of acrylic paint with the "2010" series, and has worked with the paintings as if the canvas was an uneven, textured stone wall or cave interior.[citation needed]
2012
[edit]The ongoing study of Chinese calligraphy led Graham to incorporate that ancient system of pictograms into the design of his abstract expressionist painting.[citation needed] In September 2012, Graham exhibited, at the Joyce Gordon Gallery in Oakland California.[citation needed] These works of art were the first products of this unusual blending of style, technique and Chinese imagery into a series of colorful and rhythmic paintings. Completed in a specific order beginning with the abstract painting as a foundation, Graham integrated the calligraphy character into the painting as it neared completion. As the series progressed the calligraphy figures evolved as larger and more dominant features of the paintings. The last few works of the series allowed the calligraphy to be the foundation of the paintings and even overflowing off the canvases so that only a portion of the Chinese characters are discernible. This dominant feature of one or more calligraphy characters, combined with colorful abstraction is the current direction of Monjett's abstract expressionist paintings. From his newly opened studio in Beijing China, Graham is inspired, daily, to explore and open new pathways for the integration of Western Abstract painting and the ancient language and imagery of Chinese calligraphy.[citation needed]
Exhibitions
[edit]| Year | Exhibition Type | Exhibitions | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Solo | Monjett Graham (Transfiguration), Joyce Gordon Gallery, September 7, 2012 | Oakland, California | |
| 2011 | Solo | Monjett Graham Selected Paintings, Cassandra Kersting Expressions Gallery, October 22, 2011, | Sausalito, California | [6] |
| 2011 | Solo | Monjett Graham Selected Paintings, Joe Hamer Salon, September 6, 2011 | Mill Valley, California | [7] |
| 2008 | Group | Paintings, Art and Soul Gallery, November 2008 | Burlingame, California | [citation needed] |
| 2006 | Solo | New Paintings 2006, paintings, O'Hanlon Center for the Arts, August 1 thru 31, 2006 | Mill Valley, California | [8] |
| 2005 | Group | group exhibition – paintings, Art and Soul Gallery, August 2005 | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] |
| 2005 | Solo | Selected Paintings and Prints, Fillmore Jazz Festival, July 2 and 3, 2005 | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] |
| 2004 | Solo | Recent Paintings, Marin Open Studios, May 7 and 8, 2005 | Mill Valley, California | [citation needed] |
| 2004 | Group | "Art and Politics", paintings and cartoons, O'Hanlon Center for the Arts, Oct 5 thru October 31, 2004 | Mill Valley, California | [citation needed] |
| 2004 | Solo | "Selected Paintings", paintings, dava dava salon San Francisco, CA., May 19 thru June 30, 2004 | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] |
| 2003 | Solo | Recent Paintings: "Games and Luck", Toby's Gallery, April 5 through April 30, 2003 | Point Reyes Station, California | [citation needed] |
| 2002 | Group | "It Figures", Marin County Civic Center, October 21 – December 12, 2002 | San Rafael, California | [citation needed] |
| 1999 | Solo | "Man, Woman, and Mythology", solo exhibition of mixed-media paintings, Gallery Dog, August 7 through August 31, 1999 | Eureka, California | [citation needed] |
| 1999 | Heart of Care Inc. artist-in-residence grants four-week summer arts project, funded by the Nebraska Arts Council, July 5 through August 1, 1999 | Omaha, Nebraska | [citation needed] | |
| 1999 | Group | "1999 Regional Invitational", sponsored by Humboldt State University First Street Gallery | Eureka, California | [citation needed] |
| 1999 | Solo | Musical World, solo exhibition, mix-media paintings and giclee prints, Plaza Design, January 8 – February 28, 1999 | Arcata, California | [citation needed] |
| 1999 | Group | 7th Annual Marin Arts Council Members Exhibition, paintings and limited edition prints, Corte Madera Town Center, November 14 – December 17, 1999 | Corte Madera, California | [citation needed] |
| 1999 | Group | "Windows on the Waterfront", group exhibition paintings, Jack London Square, September 3 through December 31, 1998 | Oakland, California | [citation needed] |
| 1998 | Group | Annual Group Exhibition, paintings, Shamwari Gallery, September 3 through October 30 | Oakland, California | [9] |
| 1997 | Group | "Windows on Art", group exhibition, Alameda Historical Society Museum | Alameda, California | [citation needed] |
| 1997 | Solo | "Exploring Collage", solo exhibition, Mill Valley Art Commission at Mill Valley City Hall, June 1 through June 30, 1997 | Mill Valley, California | [citation needed] |
| 1996 | Group | group exhibition – paintings, HAND Contemporary Arts, October 24 through December 19, 1996 | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] |
| 1995 | Group | Kwanza Exhibition, group exhibition, Hennepin County Government Center, December 3 through January 3, 1995 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | [citation needed] |
| Group | "Jazz and Blues Night", group exhibition, Sunrise Gallery, October 14 through December 3 | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] | |
| Solo | "The Black Holocaust", Jahn Arts International, July 9 through August 30 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | [citation needed] | |
| Group | "Intersecting Cultural Lines", Normandale Community College, January 26 through March 1 | Bloomington, Minnesota | [citation needed] | |
| Group | "Collector's Delight", Sunrise Gallery, December 3 through January 14 | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] | |
| Solo | "Recent Paintings", Frank Howard Allen Peal Estate Office, November 7 through January 31 | Mill Valley, California | [citation needed] | |
| 1992 | Solo | "Light & Rhythm 1992", paintings, Gallery Piazza, December 18 through March 15 | Sausalito, California | [10] |
| Solo | Paintings, Edward S. Curtis Gallery, February 28 through March 25 | San Anselmo, California | [citation needed] | |
| 1990 | Solo | Recent Work, Merced College Art Gallery, September 4 through 21 | Merced, California | [11] |
| 1990 | Two person | Mixed Media: Two Perspectives: Monjett Graham and Shirley Rae Parini, Pro-Arts Tempspace Gallery, July 11 through August 25 | Oakland, California | [12] |
| 1990 | Group, juried | "Exhibition ‘90", Sun Gallery, April 18 through 23 | Hayward, California | [citation needed] |
| Group | Paintings, Hatley Martin Gallery, January 11 through February 28 | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] | |
| Group | Paintings, Fort Mason | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] | |
| Solo | Paintings and Prints, Metes and Bounds | Sausalito, California | [citation needed] | |
| Group | Prints, San Francisco Artists Cooperative | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] | |
| Solo | Paintings, New Day Gallery | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] | |
| Group | Paintings, Union Street Artist's Co-op | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] | |
| Group | Paintings, Brockman Gallery | Los Angeles, California | [citation needed] | |
| 1974 | Group | Afro-American Culture Week, Napa Valley College | Napa, California | [13][14][15] |
| 1973 | Group | Les Ballet Africains, paintings, BlackMan's Art Gallery | San Francisco, California | [5] |
| Paintings, Sun Gallery | San Francisco, California | [citation needed] | ||
| 1971 | Solo | The Fire Cycle, paintings, prints, and drawings, Newman Hall Gallery | Berkeley, California | [16][17] |
| 1970 | Group | The Fire Cycle, paintings and woodcuts, Lone Mountain College | San Francisco, California | [4] |
| Group | Paintings, Richmond Art Center | Richmond, California | [citation needed] |
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Sacred Art". Omaha World-Herald. September 8, 1999. p. 47. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "40th Anniversary Party for Richard Grahams". Omaha World-Herald. September 26, 1982. p. 84. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Omaha Artist". Omaha World-Herald. June 20, 1971. p. 108. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Monjett Graham Exhibits Art Work in California". The Omaha Star. November 5, 1970. p. 2. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Zimbardo, Tanya (February 8, 2013). "Receipt of Delivery: BlackMan's Art Gallery". Open Space, SFMoMA. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ↑ Archived October 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Cassandra Kersting Gallery
- ↑ Joe Hamer Salon
- ↑ "O'Hanlon Center for the Arts". San Francisco Chronicle. August 31, 2006. p. 51. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Shamwari". San Francisco Chronicle. September 20, 1998. p. 206. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "North Bay". San Francisco Chronicle. January 19, 1992. p. 237. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Artist turns trash into treasure". Merced Sun-Star. August 31, 1990. p. 25. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Art Notes". Oakland Tribune. July 30, 1990. p. 56. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Afro–American Culture Week". The Napa Valley Register. May 4, 1974. p. 2. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Afro-American Week Begins Today at NCC". The Times-Herald. May 6, 1974. p. 7. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Exhibit of Black Artists Goes On Display Here". The Napa Valley Register. May 6, 1974. p. 18. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "The Fire-Cycle By Monjett Graham". The Omaha Star. June 17, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Graham Art at Newman Hall". The Berkeley Gazette. June 9, 1971. p. 14. Retrieved December 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
[edit]- Monjett Graham, at the Joyce Gordon Gallery
- San Francisco Gate, Visual Art August 17, 2006[dead link]
- Exhibits
- The Rip Off Review of Western Culture, First Issue
- Artist uses startling effects, Merced County Times, August 30, 1990
- Artist turns trash into treasure, Merced Sun Star, August 31, 1990
- Musical sinspiration rings true in paintings by Monjett Mill Valley Record, March 6, 1991
- Art Notes, Marlene Tait, Mill Valley Literary Review, Summer 1991
- Local artist combines "Light and Rhythm" to produce eclectic and original paintings, Marlene Tait, March 3, 1992
- Visions of Light, Marlene Tait, Mill Valley Literary Review Spring 1992
- Mixed media gets mythic, Humboldt Times Standard August 6, 1999
- Pop Icons, Mythology And The Soul Humboldt Beacon August 12, 1990