J. Eugene Grigsby

Early life and Education

Grigsby was born in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1918. His parents were both teachers and relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina after moving around throughout much of his childhood. He attended Johnson C. Smith University for one year, but finished his Bachelors of Art at Morehouse College in 1938. He completed his master's from Ohio State University two years later. In 1963 he received a doctorate from New York University in Arts Education. Additionally, he studied at the American Artists School in New York and Ecole des Beaux Arts in Marseilles, France.

Career

Grigsby volunteered for World War II in 1942 and served in the Army. Upon returning after the war, he eventually settled in Phoenix, Arizona where he spent much of his professional career. Starting in 1946 Grigsby served as the Founder and Chair of the Art Department at Carver High School for eight years, followed by serving as the Chair of Phoenix Union High School, once Carver High School closed due to desegregation. In 1966 he became a professor in the School of Art at Arizona State University. During his tenure he became the first black author and artist to publish a book for art educators with his book Art and Ethnics: Background for Teaching Youth in a Pluralistic Society. According to Dr. Laura Chapman, an art education consultant, his book "remains today, a landmark in literature of art education." She goes on to say "it was also the first to address issues and stakes for all students in respecting the heritage and diversity in American society." Art and Ethnics was reprinted by the National Art Education Association in 2000. As an educator Grigsby was known for encouraging students to use their cultural heritage to understand their own identities and to inform their art practice.

Aside from teaching, Grigsby was an active community leader. He attributes his involvement to his experiences working for three months teaching art at the American Pavilion at the World's Fair in Brussels in 1958. Following his time there, he began to start art programs in unlikely places, such as daycare centers and housing projects. He also worked to provide opportunities for young minority artists to exhibit their work. One of the ways he did this was through the founding of COBA (Consortium of Black Artists and Others for the Arts) which puts on an invitational exhibition of work from inner-city high school students in Phoenix annually and brings in a prominent African American artist to the Phoenix region every two years among other community supported programs. Additionally he started the "Arts in Job Development" program through the Opportunities Industrialization Center which provides employment training programs for under-served populations in the United States. On a national stage, Grigsby was involved with the National Art Education Association. He attended the second convening and was Chair of the Committee on Minority Concerns which is now the Committee on Multiethnic Concerns.

Grigsby was a prolific artist who continued to create art even at the age of 93. According to Grigsby "a visual artist expresses himself/herself about human conditions, within a framework of design".Grigsby's aesthetics are heavily influenced by African art, specifically from the Kuba Kingdom. Family is cited as one of his many inspirations, however other themes of social injustice and humanity are often present in his work as well.

Selected Exhibitions

Selected Awards