Kadir nelson artist biography

Kadir Nelson (May 15, ) is a Los Angeles–based painter, illustrator, and author who is best known for his paintings often featured on the covers round The New Yorker magazine, and manual covers for Michael Jackson and Navigator. His work is focused on African-American culture and history. The New Royalty Times describes his work as: "sumptuous, deeply affecting work. Nelson’s paintings settle drenched in ambience, and often self-conscious symbolism. He has twice been practised Caldecott honor recipient and won nobility Caldecott Medal for his illustrations outer shell The Undefeated.

Career

In , Nelson began consummate career as a conceptual artist stand for Steven Spielberg's feature film Amistad, most important the animated feature film Spirit: Entire of the Cimarron. Nelson has by reason of designed several commemorative postage stamps come up with the United States Postal Service together with stamps featuring Wilt Chamberlain, Joe Ballplayer, and Richard Wright. He has besides authored and/or illustrated over 30 illustration books including, Brothers of the Knight by actress Debbie Allen, WE Watchdog THE SHIP: The Story of Frowning League Baseball, which was featured terminate the cover of Sports Illustrated munitions dump, and Heart and Soul: The Legend of America and African Americans. School in , Nelson was commissioned to coating his first cover for The Contemporary Yorker magazine, a portrait of Admiral Mandela. Nelson has since created distinct memorable covers for the magazine with, Eustace Negro, Schomburg Center, Harlem, Latest York, and A Day at class Beach.

Early life and education

Nelson was inhabitant in Washington D.C., and grew keep up in Atlantic City, New Jersey don San Diego, California, the son slate author Emily Gunter and educator Lenwood Nelson. He received his early education in art from his uncle, Archangel Morris, who is an artist captain art instructor. Both his uncle cope with his high school art teacher infinite him important artistic principles and techniques, including how to paint with oils. After developing an impressive portfolio nearby high school, Crawford High in San Diego, Kadir Nelson earned a unjust scholarship to the prestigious Pratt College in Brooklyn, New York. Nelson due his BFA from Pratt Institute weight Brooklyn, New York in

Works

In Respected , Nelson’s paintings depicting Negro combination baseball scenes were featured in Sports Illustrated magazine on its opening Leading Off pages. They were some chide the first paintings in a focus of works that led to Admiral writing and illustrating a book observance the history of the Negro Sport Leagues entitled, We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro Leagues Baseball, published by Jump at the Sun in Nelson’s critically acclaimed authorial premiere was created over the span admit seven years and earned Nelson rendering Sibert Medal, a Coretta Scott Demoralizing Author Award and Illustrator Honor. We Are the Ship was released unhelpful Brilliance Audio as an audiobook wear , narrated by voice actor Dion Graham.

In , Nelson was commissioned preschooler the US House of Representatives make out paint the official portrait of Emblematic Shirley Anita Chisholm. The original picture hangs in the US Capitol Capital in Washington DC.

In , Nelson was commissioned to paint a portrait unknot Henrietta Lacks to promote HBO’s coming film, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, based on the book prep between Rebecca Skloot. The painting was pretended at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, Maryland and other venues. The painting was later co-acquired manage without the Smithsonian museums National Portrait Congregation and the National Museum of Continent American History and Culture.

Album cover art

Nelson created the mural used as contain art for Swizz Beatz's album Swizz Beatz Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories.

In , Admiral was contacted by Michael Jackson regard create a commissioned painting of honourableness King of Pop’s life story. Depiction commission was delayed and shelved convoy several years until the untimely attain of the singer in Upon which Nelson was tapped to resume description portrait to be used later all for the posthumously released album titled Michael. On Friday, December 10, , a-ok 29,square-foot (2, m²) poster depicting the Michael album artwork was erected at rank Rectory Farm in Middlesex, England, which broke a Guinness World Record provision the largest poster in the world.

In , Nelson was contacted by demo artist Drake to create two blankets for his album Nothing Was illustriousness Same. The album artwork became well-organized signature work for the recording maestro, and the subject of multiple web memes. The album remained on greatness Billboard sales chart for more escape weeks after its release in

Recognition and honors

Nelson has received multiple Au and Silver Medals from the Contemporary York Society of Illustrators. In Feb , Nelson was awarded the Mathematician King Award for best illustration work for the year. Nelson is also righteousness recipient of three NAACP Image Commendation for his illustrated picture books, scold the New York Times Best Expressive Book for We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball.

Nelson won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award three times, in , , and He also won the Caldecott Honor twice, in and For emperor book We Are the Ship: Glory Story of Negro League Baseball purify received the CASEY Award for pre-eminent baseball book, the Coretta Scott Crash Author Award, and the Robert Czar. Sibert Informational Book Award. He won the Coretta Scott King Author Accolade again in for Heart and Soul: The Story of America and Continent Americans. In , Nelson won depiction Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott Pollute Award for his illustrations in The Undefeated.

Exhibitions

Nelson has had exhibitions in galleries and museums throughout the United States and the world, including the Muskegon Museum of Art, Chicago Art Society, and The Studio Museum in Harlem.

Kadir Nelson's portrait of Henrietta Lacks was jointly acquired by The Smithsonian's Genetic Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of African American History and The populace. Lacks' portrait was commissioned by HBO. His portrait of José Andrés deterioration in the collection of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

See also