How artist Alonzo Adams captures the essence of black culture through art

A who’s who of entertainers, athletes and artists have been drawn to Alonzo Adams’ “poetic, pensive” work, from NBA Hall of Famers to Maya Angelou.

Growing up as an only child in Plainfield, New Jersey, Alonzo Adams spent a lot of time by himself. A rare condition required him to have two nose surgeries, further isolating him from other kids. But he found a friend in drawing.

By fifth grade, he said, he realized he had “a God-given talent.” Years later, he went to Rutgers University to study engineering to fulfill his mother’s wishes for him. But when the consistently solid student failed calculus, “I knew engineering wasn’t for me,” Adams said.

 About that time, he came across the art of Charles White, a Black artist whose work centered on poignant images of Black life, and Adams’ purpose — and career path — changed. As a freshman, he showed a professor his first oil painting, called “The Start,” which depicted a runner set to take off on a race. The professor was so impressed he visited Adams’ home to convince his mother to allow her son to change his major.

 “It was like a college coach coming into an athlete’s living room to recruit a player,” Adams said.

Adams’ biggest collector is Basketball Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning.Courtesy Alonzo AdamsHis mother acquiesced, and “The Start” turned out to be a symbol for the launch of his career. Adams, who earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, exploded out of the blocks and is now one of the country’s pre-eminent artists who captures Black culture.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/alonzo-adams-artist-capture-black-culture-rcna156037

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