Creating Art With Purpose
Self-taught artist George Gadson’s artworks express different spiritual aspects and values of life. His unabated passion for creating translates into exuberant and joyous figurative sculptures, abstracts, photography and more, inspired by his surroundings, people and their environment, and mundane objects of everyday life that often go unnoticed.
Drawing on many sources and ideas for his work, including his personal life story and experiences makes the creative process to be as equally important as the final work. The process allows him to feel, explores, and discovers, the insight, enchantments, and spiritual empowerment that the experience of creating brings.
Gadson seeks to bring to life the forgotten history found in many communities and capture civic memories through creative design works for public spaces. Such efforts aid in rebuilding the tangible and intangible characters of a community, bringing disparate groups together, creating safer neighborhoods, promoting a greater sense of place and belonging, and breathing new life into the “soul” of a community and its residents.
EDUCATION
Duke University – 1975 BA
University of Valencia, Spain – Spanish Studies -1974
Florida Atlantic University -Non-Profit Management Studies – 2002
University of Massachusetts Amherst – Arts Management – 2006
Brewer Christian College and Graduate School – The Kaleo Institute–Master of Arts in Christian Education -2008
Self-taught artist George Gadson’s artworks express different spiritual aspects and values of life. His unabated passion for creating translates into exuberant and joyous figurative sculptures, abstracts, photography and more, inspired by his surroundings, people and their environment, and mundane objects of everyday life that often go unnoticed.
Drawing on many sources and ideas for his work, including his personal life story and experiences makes the creative process to be as equally important as the final work. The process allows him to feel, explores, and discovers, the insight, enchantments, and spiritual empowerment that the experience of creating brings.
Gadson seeks to bring to life the forgotten history found in many communities and capture civic memories through creative design works for public spaces. Such efforts aid in rebuilding the tangible and intangible characters of a community, bringing disparate groups together, creating safer neighborhoods, promoting a greater sense of place and belonging, and breathing new life into the “soul” of a community and its residents.
EDUCATION
Duke University – 1975 BA
University of Valencia, Spain – Spanish Studies -1974
Florida Atlantic University -Non-Profit Management Studies – 2002
University of Massachusetts Amherst – Arts Management – 2006
Brewer Christian College and Graduate School – The Kaleo Institute–Master of Arts in Christian Education -2008
Selected Public Art Commissions:
Sankofa Monument – City of Fort Lauderdale, FL – 2016
Dr. Kathleen Cooper Wright – Broward County Links- Broward County, FL School Board – 2016
“Equality”, Urban League of Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, FL – 2012
“Common Unity”, Urban League of Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, FL -2012
“Mangrove Canopy”, Community Redevelopment Agency, City of Boynton Bch, FL – 2011
“Burst of Flowers”, Lauderhill, FL- Broward Estates Park – 2011
“River Run” Lauderhill, FL – Broward Estates Park – 2012
“Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”, Broward County Libraries, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 2009
Lauderhill, FL– “Imaginary Animals”, Renaissance Park – 2008
“Romancing the Stones” – Lauderhill, FL. Ilene Lieberman Botanical Gardens
“In Celebration of Children and Families”, Children’s Services Council., Boynton Beach, FL – 2007
“Lift Every Voice”, Florida Memorial University, Miami, FL – 2006
“Family Roots”, Pompano Beach, FL – 2005
“Egretta Thula”, Tamarac, FL., Tamarac Commons Park – 2005
Pineapple Grove Art Walk- Delray Beach, FL- 2003:The Cultural Loop – Delray Beach, FL – 2003
“The Bridge”, African American Research Library and Cultural Ctr., Ft. Lauderdale, FL– 2002
Group Exhibitions:
“Esther Rolle”- African American Research Library &Cultural Ctr, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 2021
“Roots of the Spirit Exhibition” January 2020
AfroFuture – CADA – Miami, Fl 2019
“Keepers of the Dream” – Hollywood ArtsPark – 2009
“African American Mosaic” – Tamarac, FL – 2008
“Origins”- Lake Wales Art Center- Lake Wales, FL – 2005
“The Middle Passage” – Florida International University – 2005
African Presence in the Western Hemisphere – Nova Southeastern University – 2004
Form, Fashion and Photography, ArtServe, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 2003
“Healings and Heroes”, ArtServe, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 2002
“Black Expressions” Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 2002
‘The Splendor of Bonnet House Art Competition”, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 2000, 2001
“Gathering of the Spirits”- Gallery Antigua, Miami, FL 1999
“Black Renaissance in Broward”, JM. Family Enterprises Gallery at ArtServe, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 1999
Florida Black Newspaper Publishers Association’s “Political and Economic Summit” – 1998
“Inspiration 98” – Harriet W. and George D. Cornell Museum of Art and History – 1998
Steven Roy Schacknow Memorial Exhibit- Coral Springs Art Guild- Schacknow Museum of Fine Art -1997
“Inspiration 97” – Harriet W. and George D. Cornell Museum of Art and American Culture, Delray Beach, FL – 1997
“Linkages: Bridging the Gulf of Time” Old Dillard Museum-Fort Lauderdale, FL – 1996
Selected Art Commissions:
JM Family Enterprises, Inc. – African American Achievers Awards – 2014, 2015
International Swimming Hall of Fame – Fort Lauderdale, FL -2012
Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk Trust – Fort Lauderdale, FL- 2010
United States White House Christmas Tree Ornament – Washington, DC-2008
McDonald’s Air and Sea Show – Fort Lauderdale, FL, 2006, 2007
Darden Restaurants, Inc. – Orlando, FL 2004, 2005
The Jim Moran Foundation – Deerfield Beach, FL 2003
Jack and Jill Children’s Center – Ft. Lauderdale, FL 2003
C. Spencer Pompey Committee – Delray Beach, FL 2003
Delta Heritage Foundation – West Palm Beach, FL 2003
Youth Automotive Training Center, Deerfield Beach, FL – 2001
Community Foundation of Broward- Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 2001
J. M. Family Enterprises -Deerfield Beach, FL – 2000
The Salvation Army, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 2000
Good Samaritan Outreach – 2000
Gold Coast Magazine/ Presidents’ Council – 1999 (Exemplar Awards) – 2000
Ely Educational Foundation- Pompano Beach, FL – 1999
Healthy Mother Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County – 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Super Bowl XXIX, “The Quarterback”, to commemorate Super Bowl XXIX – 1999
The Links of Broward County – 1998
18th Annual Sistrunk Historical Festival Poster – 1998
Children’s Home Society- C.J. Radar “Hand of Hope” Award – 1996, 1997, 1998
Super Bowl XXIX- Sculpture- “The Kicker”; The Quarterback- Super Bowl XXIX – 1995
Miami Dolphin quarterback, Dan Marino – Dan Marino Foundation—1994.
One- Person Exhibitions:
“About Faces” – Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery- 2019
“Naturally Morphic” – Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery- Sunrise, Florida (2014)
“Hattitudes: The Art of Hat Wearing” African American Research Library & Cultural Center- Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 2007
City of Tamarac – Tamarac, Florida – 2005
Old Davie School Historical Museum: George Gadson: Then & Now –-Davie, FL – 2004
African American Research Library and Cultural Center-Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 2003
Ashanti Cultural Arts, Fort Lauderdale, FL – 1995