University Galleries to Host 2023 Alumni Art Exhibition with Featured Artist Jackson ‘21

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 25, 2023) – The University Galleries at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host the 2023 Alumni Art Exhibition during its homecoming celebration. Set to present a diverse range of styles, subjects and mediums, the group exhibition will showcase alumni artists from the university’s Visual Arts Program.

The exhibition’s opening reception is Thursday, Nov. 2, at 5:30 p.m., and will be on display through Dec. 13.

“Over 100 works of art are being exhibited from more than 50 A&T visual arts alumni,” said Roy Carter, A&T associate professor and director of the Visual Arts Program. “This is a massive collection of work from our visual arts graduates who are recognized artists across the nation and the globe.”

The exhibition will spotlight the work of numerous outstanding alumni, including Durham, North Carolina native Jalen Jackson ‘21, the featured artist for the show. He has been highlighted in Walter Magazine and various group exhibitions across North Carolina, including 311 Art Gallery, Anchorlight Studios, Wake Tech, The Fruit and Artspace, where he’s the 2023 Artspace HBCU Artist-in-Residence in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.

For this exhibition, Jackson captures his childhood memories in oil paintings that resonate with cultural experiences, especially growing up as a son of a single mother. He said his paintings are the best way to show his appreciation toward his mother and his motivation throughout his journey as an artist.

“The woman who raised me has been the best mother, teacher, role model and muse I could ever ask for,” said Jackson. “My goal is to create a sense of nostalgia while giving a representation of Black soul for whoever interacts with my work.”

Other highlighted artists in the alumni exhibit include Charles Joyner, a North Carolinian who portrays images that document various genres of African American and African culture. His artwork is a transparency of his life growing up in rural North Carolina that has been strongly influenced by his travels in West Africa. A retired professor of design at North Carolina State University, Joyner has been creating, exhibiting and teaching art for more than thirty years. His works have won numerous awards in national exhibitions and are exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the southeast. Joyner earned a B.A. in art and design from A&T and an MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

“These artists and others that have come through this program are why we have been able to be successful as a historically Black college/university art program,” said Carter. “Our job is to mentor, guide and develop them as professionals.”

Another well-known artist showcased in the exhibition is Vandorn Hinnant, a visual artist, poet and educator based in Durham. He received a B.A. in art and design from A&T. His works of art are in private collections in Africa, North America and Europe, and public collections across North America. Hinnant leads hands-on workshops on “The Geometry of Art and Life” for learners of all ages. He is co-author with Robert Powell Sr. and Robert Powell Jr. of the book: “The Rest of Euclid: An Ancient Architecture of Arithmetic and the Modern Theory of Number.”

The exhibit will be open to the public during normal University Galleries hours, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday by appointment. Exhibitions are free. Group tours are welcome. For more information, call Carter at 336-334-3209.

Nov. 2

Alumni Panel Discussion, 11 a.m.-noon

Opening Reception, 5:30 -7:30 p.m. (Greetings begin at 6 p.m.)

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Henry Clinton Taylor Gallery, Dudley Building

202 University Circle

Greensboro, NC 27411

Student Workshops

Alumni artists will hold workshops and portfolio presentations throughout the exhibition.

In addition, the University Galleries feature virtual exhibitions, which include:

“Black Art Matters,” https://www.ncat.edu/cahss/gallery/black-art-matters.php

“Rosa: The Works of Bryan Collier,” https://www.ncat.edu/cahss/gallery/collier/index.php

“Songs from the Motherland: Musical Instruments from the Permanent Collection,” https://www.ncat.edu/cahss/gallery/songs-from-the-motherland/index.php

To learn more, visit the University Galleries website.