Phoebe Beasley's Biography
Dr. Samella Lewis put one of Phoebe Beasley's collages on the cover of her seminal book, Art: African American saying "[Phoebe Beasley] incorporates paint, tissue paper, cloth and a variety of found objects to create compositions that express experiences in the lives of her special people, people of ordinary means, whose daily activities often go unnoticed."
Artist statement: The themes and subjects that I focus on in my art come from what I know, based on my point of reference. And they are certainly from my culture. But, there is a universality in my work of what it's like living alone, being poor, and getting old.
Education
M.A. Kent State University, Ohio
B.F.A. Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
Awards
Presidential Seal, Inauguration of President Bill Clinton
Presidential Seal, Inauguration of President George Bush
Woman of the Year, Los Angeles Sentinel
Black Women of Achievement Award, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Official Artist of the 1999 Los Angeles Marathon
Collections
California African American Museum
Magic Johnson Enterprises
Sandra and Dr. Lloyd Baccus
Clarence and Jacquie Avant
Publications
African American Art and Artists by Samella Lewis, Ph.D., published by University of California Press, Los Angeles, CA in 1990.
Collecting African American Art by Halima Taha, published by Crown Publishers, Inc., New York City in 1998.
St. James Guide to Black Artists edited by Thomas Riggs, published by St. James Press, Detroit in 1997.
"Art Card Raises Funds" by Leigh Ann Clifton, Artweek, 18 November 1993.
"Phoebe Beasley", Black Art Quarterly International, February 1982.
Exhibitions
Arizona State University, Tempe
Cinque Gallery, New York City
Museum of African American Art, Los Angeles
Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
North Carolina Central University
Schomberg Center, New York City
Anheuser Busch Gallery, St. Louis