Aminah Robinson

born Columbus, Ohio, 1940; died Columbus, Ohio, 2015

BiographyAs a small child, Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson was taught by her father to draw and make homemade books from natural materials. Her mother taught her weaving, needlework, and button work.

She began attending the Columbus Art School (now the Columbus College of Art and Design) on Saturdays while she was still in high school and then continued after she graduated from high school.

Aminah created sculptures, rag paintings, paintings on cloth, drawings, prints, and books. Many of them are about her family and community, She also researched the lives of abolitionists, civil rights leaders, musicians, and writers and depicted them in her art.

Her art is grounded in her belief in the African concept of Sankofa, learning from the past in order to move forward. She traveled extensively for inspiration.

Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States and she has received numerous awards and grants from arts organizations. IIn 2004, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship which is given to "talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction."

For additional information see http://www.aminahsworld.org/meet/

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