His natural abilities come
as no surprise to his family.
Kadir Nelson grew up in a
creative environment surrounded
by talented individuals who
inspired and encouraged his
craft. His uncle was a driving
force behind his development
and when Kadir was sixteen
his high school art teacher
took him under his wing.
This icon of African American
art began painting in oil
during his teenage years.
He entered his paintings in
competitions in the New York
area. His endeavors in contests
finally won him a scholarship
to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn,
New York. There he developed
his skills to the remarkable
quality we see in his projects
today.
His list of accomplishments
is astounding. This artist
has managed to achieve great
things at a relatively young
age. His work has appeared
on advertisements for Coca
Cola, in Sports Illustrated
magazine as well as in DreamWorks
productions. His work can
also be found in homes of
people who collect African
American art.
Perhaps his most accessible
work can be found at your
local bookstore. Kadir Nelson
has illustrated several children’s
books. These masterpieces
of children’s literature
represent African American
art for a young audience.
The work of this artist may
inspire budding young creative
types around the world.
With his eclectic style and
his ability to capture a moment
or a character this artist
is certain to go down in African
American art history as one
of the greatest artistic forces
of all time. |
