George E. Gadson

George Gadson (born August 10 1953) is an American artist living and working in Florida.“An Artistic Celebration of Community, ArtHive Magazine, Contributing Writer Renowned South Florida Artist George Gadsonhttps://arthivemagazine.com/homeshow/ 
== Early life and education ==
Florida native George Gadson was born and raised in Fort Meade, Florida. From the small Central town|FortMeade, Humble Beginnings, Outhouses and Small Towns“Expression,” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Feb. 18, 2006, Reporter, Writer Liz Doup https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2006-02-18-0602160965-story.html to George and Laura Bush’s White House as the artist commissioned to design a Christmas Ornament for the tree in 2008, “Artist Created White House Ornament,” South Florida Sun Sentinel, May 12, 2009, Reporter Tessa Metayer https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2009-05-12-0905110094-story.html he is an artist, sculptor and community advocate George Gadson Community Advocate“Artist George Gadson Shares Shoes with Habitat for Humanity,” BroardwayWorld.com, June 14, 2019 https://www.broadwayworld.com/fort-lauderdale/article/Artist-George-Gadson-Shares-Shoes-With-Habitat-For-Humanity-20190614 who began his career as a banker, eventually owning his own mortgage brokerage firm in Miami.
George Gadson holds a Bachelors of Arts degree from Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 1975. He completed studies at the University of Valencia, Spain and holds a Masters of Arts degree in Education from Brewer Christian College and Graduate School, 2008. “Artist George Gadson Receives Arts and Culture Visionary Award,” BrowardwayWorld.com, August23, 2019 https://www.broadwayworld.com/fort-lauderdale/article/Artist-George-Gadson-Receives-Arts-And-Culture-Visionary-Award-20190823 
Gadson gained national recognition for his realistic portraits and sculptures of individuals and figures with historical significance to the preservation of Black History. His work is displayed in many venues as Public Art, as well as in the homes and collections of notable celebrities. Recognized as an arts influencer in his community, Gadson is noted for his sports celebrity signature awards. Hot Box Art Talks Night, “Looking for Arts Funding,” PureHoney Magazine, Feb. 17, 2017 http://www.purehoneymagazine.com/hotbox-art-talks-knight/ Arts and Sports Signature Awards Artist “The Artist and the Linebacker” WestSide Gazette, August 23, 2018 https://thewestsidegazette.com/the-artist-and-the-linebacker/ “ArtServe's VIP preview kicks off 'reimagined' season by honoring arts influencers”, MSN News, By Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, September 12, 2019 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/artserves-vip-preview-kicks-off-reimagined-season-by-honoring-arts-influencers/ar-AAH9WEc and consulted as a proponent on the business of art, and the development of artists as entrepreneurs. “The Artist As An Entrepreneur,” International Opulence MagazineBy Rafael Cruz, Regional Director, SBDC Fort Lauderdale http://www.internationalopulence.com/entrepreneur/ Miami Art Scene, BUSINESS PLAN CLINIC AND WORKSHOP FOR ARTISTS, JUNE 20, 2014 https://www.themiamiartscene.com/business-plan-clinic-and-workshop-for-artists/ “The Business of Art” Florida Trend Magazine, August 1, 2007, Writer Barbara Miraclehttps://www.floridatrend.com/article/9226/the-business-of-art
== Work ==
Working in a variety of mediums Gadson has created bronze relief portrait sculptures of Jim Moran,
The Jim Moran Foundation and Founder Bill Darden for Darden Restaurants, Inc. owner of the national restaurant chains Olive Garden and
Red Lobster. His public artworks are permanently displayed in numerous locations, including the International Swimming Hall of Fame,
the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, the City of Lauderhill, the City of Tamarac,
the City of Pompano Beach, the City of Fort Lauderdale, and the City of Lauderdale Lakes in Florida.
In 2010, George Gadson, established Art-Turnatives for Building Communities (ABC’s), a non-profit
organization based in Broward County, Florida that seeks to bring the arts to communities where access
to and participation in various art forms is limited. The ABC’s program seeks to bring back to life the
forgotten history found in many communities and capture civic memories through direct hands-on
creative experiences such as visual art workshops and community outreach projects. Such efforts are
hoped to aid in rebuilding the tangible and intangible characters of the community, bring disparate
groups together, create safer neighborhoods, and weave a greater sense of “pride” into the fabric of
communities who have lost their identity. Art Turnatives for Building Communities Filed as Non-Profit, Jan. 28, 2010 "I use a lot of color when I use oil, and I love to show people with deep expressions and feelings on their faces," said Gadson. <ref> ART OF EXPRESSION EMOTIONS FILL GEORGE GADSON'S CANVAS, Sun-Sentinel Report, LYDA LONGA https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1992-05-22-9202090836- story.html?int=lat_digitaladshouse_bx-modal_acquisition-subscriber_ngux_display-ad-interstitial_bx-bonus-story______
In 2017, Gadson was invited to design and present a sculpture to Baltimore Raven's retired Linebacker
National Football League (NFL) Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. George Gadson and Ray Lewis, Artspan.org
https://www.artspan.com/other/3243151/george-gadson-and-retired-baltimore-ravens-linebacker-hall-
of-famer-ray-lewis Gadson also presented sports signature awards when commissioned by the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee in 1995 and 1999 when he created two Super Bowl bronze commemorative sculptures aptly named, “The Quarterback” and the “The Kicker,” for each of the NFL Team owners as well as other VIPs. Kicker and Quarterback and Signature Awards
City of Tamarac Website https://www.tamarac.org/939/George-Gadson 
== Public art commissions ==
In 2016, “SANKOFA MONUMENT” “Lauderdale to spend $150,000 on avian statue”
by By LARRY BARSZEWSKI, SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL | JUN 16, 2015
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-lauderdale-150000-bird-sculpture-
20150616-story.html City of Fort Lauderdale, Bronze, 11 FT. 
“The Sankofa Bird” on Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL is based on a mythical bird Lauderdale to spend $150,000 on avian statue Larry Barszewski Contact Reporter South Florida Sun-Sentinel https://www.capitalgazette.com/fl-lauderdale-150000-bird-sculpture-20150616-story.html with its feet firmly planted forward and its head turned backwards, a continual reminder to the community, that looking back on your past can help you to always remember through reflection and honor. George Gadson presents the Sistrunk Historical Monument https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsxSTxdato8 It is believed to be this wisdom in learning from the past which ensures a strong future. “Statue Merges Past and Present,” SFLTimes, March 13, 2016 http://www.sfltimes.com/news/local/statue-merges-past-and-present “Trailblazers of Broward County” The WestSide Gazette, April 5, 2016
https://issuu.com/westsidegazette/docs/wsg_5bd891191133cc
In 2016, "DR. KATHLEEN COOPER WRIGHT MONUMENT" South Florida Artist George Gadson, ShineOnSFL.com
https://shineonsfl.com/local-artist-shares-our-culture/ Fort Lauderdale, FL. Broward County School Board Administration Building, Bronze, 15 FT.
This monument pays tribute to Dr. Kathleen Cooper Wright, trailblazer, educator and civil rights leader.
She was the first African American elected to the Broward County School Board and the first African
American woman elected to any School Board in the State of Florida.
 
In 2013 Gadson created and dedicated, “EQUALITY,” a sculpture that incorporates the logo of the Urban
League of Broward County (ULBC), “National Urban League Conference Draws 13,000 Attendees and Leaves Notable “Gifts” to Local Community” August 3, 2015 | Alicia Brown https://www.ulbroward.org/news/national-urban-league-conference-draws-13000-attendees-and-
leaves-notable-gifts-local representing the organization’s strong commitment to ensuring equality for all people. Life size figures of a three-member family is an integral part of the sculpture. Fabricated in hand-painted aluminum, the work stands approximately 10’ tall and 10’ in diameter and is inscribed on the front and back of the sculpture’s concrete base with a quote that captures the philosophy of the ULBC. It is located in the City of Fort Lauderdale at the Urban League of Broward County. Urban League of Broward County Unveils New Building Name at First Anniversary Celebration Broward County Commission, News Release https://webapps6.broward.org/newsrelease/View.aspx?intMessageID=4556 
In 2012, “MANGROVE CANOPY” City of Boynton Beach, FL. - Community Redevelopment Agency 
Powder-Coated Stainless Steel Tree Trunk Multi-colored Aluminium Roots and Stained Glass, 10 FT. 
With both the park and the surrounding marina playing an important role in the city’s economic and
ecological vitality, ”Mangrove Canopy” connects the city’s marina to the downtown and establishes a
‘sense of place’. Other design elements, fabricated in multi-colored stained glass represent the
shimmering sun and water’s edge. The Palm Beach Post, August 12, 2016
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/photogallery/LK/20160812/PHOTOGALLERY/308129852/PH/1 
In 2010 “YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW”
Lauderdale Lakes, FL – Bronze - 15 FT. Wide BY 5 FT. High “At Lauderdale Lakes library, art that reflects what we have in common” Gregory Lewis, Sun Sentinel, July 16, 2010 https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2010-07-16-fl-gadson-art-20100716-story.html 
This wall sculpture is part of an interactive installation and is comprised of an interactive human sundial, accompanied by the wall sculpture of a world globe, celebrates the one come common element all diverse groups from around the world have in common-Time. On a sunny day, the sun will cast a shadow of the participant, telling the time of day.
In 2006, “TUSKEGEE AIRMAN" May 4, 2006, “Heroes Flying High”, Sun-Sentinel, Gregory Lewis, Staff Writer https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2006-05-04-0605031859-story.html 
African American Research Library and Cultural Center Fort Lauderdale, Florida 15” x 24” x 8” – Bronze
In honor of America's first Black fighter pilots, twelve (12) Tuskegee Airmen were honored at the Media
and Community Recognition Day as part of the McDonald’s® Air and Sea Show activities on May 3, 2007
at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As part of the
official ceremony, Gadson’s Tuskegee Airman bronze sculpture remains on display permanently as one
of the library’s special collection. 
In 2006, “LIFT EV'RY VOICE” “Master of Art Making a Profit.” South Florida Times
http://www.sfltimes.com/news/local/master-of-art-of-making-a-profit
January 8, 2019 Florida Memorial University, Miami, FL.-Bronze - 9 FT.
“Lift Ev'ry Voice” memorializes the inaugural singing of the
national negro anthem, performed originally in 1900 at Florida Memorial College, as the school was then known.
The sculpture takes its name from the National Negro Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and is written
by the brothers James W. and J. Rosamond Johnson.
Today it is a permanent work in the lobby of the university’s Lou Rawls Performing Art Center, located
now in Miami.
Florida Memorial University one of the oldest African American academic centers in Florida, was
founded in 1879 as the Florida Baptist Institute in Live Oak, Florida. The National Negro Anthem, “Lift
Ev'ry Voice and Sing,” written by James W. Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson was performed originally
in 1900 by Florida Memorial College Glee Club students. https://shineonsfl.com/local-artist-shares-our-culture/lift-every-voice/ShineOn South Florida
In 2004, “FAMILY ROOTS” Reference: https://ibiartpompano.wordpress.com/2013/10/17/george-gadson-sculpture/
“IBI GROUP PUBLIC ARTMASTER PLAN FOR POMPANO BEACH”
City of Pompano Beach, FL. 
Bronze, 12 FT.
“Family Roots” pays tribute to “preservation of family heritage and identity” in a predominantly African
American community. Most residents in the African American community trace most of their roots back
to the Bahamas. Location: 520 NW 3rd St, Pompano Beach, FL 33060
In 2003, "C. SPENCER POMPEY" Pompey, flccenter.org, May 6, 2010, “Who is George Gadson”
http://www.flccenter.org/flccenter/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52%3Awho-is-
george-gadson-&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=1 
City of Delray Beach, Florida- 2003, 
Bronze, 30” High 
C. Spencer Pompey was an African-American teacher, coach, principal and motivator for more than 40 years. He played a significant role in the civil rights movement when he called upon the NAACP to assign an attorney to help defend black teachers’ case dealing with equal pay and importantly the equalization of facilities which challenged the “separate but equal” concept in Florida. 
The attorney assigned was Thurgood Marshall who later became the first black Supreme Court Justice. 
On Friday, October 17, 2003, the bronze bust of C. Spencer Pompey was unveiled in the commissioned chambers before being relocated to the main lobby of
Delray Beach’s City Hall, the permanent home of the sculpture
In 2002, Gadson designed and created public art sculpture, “THE BRIDGE” at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center.
This 12 FT. bronze artwork is fashioned in the shape of a drum and topped with the universal African
Adinkra symbol tells a story of the struggles and successes of African American
people in their quest for freedom by integration of key issues – education, geography, technology,
economic, and culture – all intricately woven into the design. 
Fashioned in the shape of a drum and topped with the universal African Adinkra symbol, Gadson’s “Bridge” tells a story of the struggles and successes of the African Americans in their quest for freedom. The drum’s design incorporates the stylized image of the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama where Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. led a series of marches that brought media attention to the violence and discrimination that barred blacks from the voting polls. The marches ultimately prompted President Lyndon B. Johnson to introduce a comprehensive voting rights bill to Congress and on August 6, 1965, he signed the Voting Rights Act, which provided federal supervision of voter registration practices, effectively opening the polls to African Americans throughout the South for the first time since the end of Reconstruction. The Bridge, Artspan.com
https://www.artspan.com/sculpture/279132/the-bridge 
The Edmund Pettus Bridge was declared a National Historic Landmark on March 11, 2013 Edmund Pettus Bridge: https://www.selmatimesjournal.com/2013/03/11/edmund-pettus-bridge-
now-a-historic-landmark/. Title: Edmund Pettus Bridge now a historic landmark, Selma Times Journal,
Staff Report, March 11, 2013 Incorporating the Library’s strategic plan and key issues – geography, technology, economic, education and culture elements have all been intricately woven into the design. A geographic bridge connects the historically black community in Broward to the newly revitalized downtown Fort Lauderdale; a technological bridge of access to the new computer-oriented 21st century; an economic bridge offering services for small community business; an education bridge providing lifelong learning to people of all age; and finally, there is a bridge of culture that celebrates art, dance, theatre and literature. Completing the monument is the Adinkra symbol DWENNIMMEN placed atop the drum. It is a symbol of the Ashanti people of Ghana, Africa representing humility, strength, wisdom and learning.
In 2000, “BLANCHE ELY" “George and Blanche Meet Again” La Familia de Broward
https://www.lafamiliadebroward.com/george-and-blanche-meet-again/ -Ely Education Foundation Pompano Beach, Florida,
Bronze 15” High
Ahead of her time, the principal of Ely High school in Pompano Beach in the 1930s, Dr. Blanche Ely, a Colombia-educated black woman, represented to the Pompano Beach community, pioneering strength and trend-setting hope. This artwork is the artist’s representation of a local hero who left the Pompano Beach community enamored and emblazoned with pride for her teachings to this day, her messages have traveled through
the century. The bust is a gift to the Blanche Ely Museum in Pompano Beach which reopened in September 2019. “George and Blanche Meet Again” Westside Gazette, Writer, Carma Henry, April 18, 2019,
https://thewestsidegazette.com/george-and-blanche-meet-again/ 
== Exhibitions ==
In January 2020, “Roots of the Spirit Exhibition,” As one of five artists exhibited, Gadson premiered three new, never-before-seen artworks, under the curatorial direction of Ludlow E. Bailey. This multi-media presentation, the largest exhibition of African Diaspora artwork in Broward County ever, was a collaboration with the Miramar Cultural Trust Artserve Presents Roots of the Spirit,” GF Alliance, Dec. 10, 2019https://www.gflalliance.org/news/2019/12/10/member-news/artserve-presents-roots-of-the-spirit-soulful-expressions-of-the-african-diaspora/#.XsZj4DpKjD4 
In 2019, “About Faces,” a solo exhibition by artist George Gadson premiered in September at The Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery, as an exhibition of photography and sculpture focused on the human countenance. 
The opening included a Book Signing for the artist’s publication, "Art Psalms," a collection of the Gadson’s work expressed through his poetry. George Gadson Opens “About Faces Exhibition,” Broadway World, NewsDesk, Sept. 4, 2019. https://www.broadwayworld.com/fort-lauderdale/article/George-Gadson-Opens-About-Faces-Exhibition-20190904 
In 2015 the works of George Gadson, John Paul Goncalves and Darren Johnson were exhibited the Fort
Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show “At Home with Art” — an art exhibit, showcasing 18
Broward artists in varying mediums including sculptures, paintings, and digital art. The artist’s work
highlighted multiple mediums in materials such as found objects, paintings, photography and sculpture,
all converging together forming a cohesive theme centered on nature and humanity. “At Home with Art,”Miami Art Guide, Oct. 23, 2015 https://www.miamiartguide.com/at-home-with-art-at-the-fort-lauderdale-home-design-and-remodeling-show/ 
In 2014, the solo exhibition “Naturally Morphic,” premiered at the Sunrise Civic Center in Sunrise Florida, featured Gadson’s unique collection of sculptures, photographs and other work in more than 25 artworks, where natural occurrences, found objects and organic materials are all part of the artistic process.
“"My vision is for people to experience art with uncommon and common things," he said. "Photography of course can be straightforward, but the photographs themselves have symbolism. For example, I took a picture of the nameplate of a headstone that was in an old cemetery. It's part wood and going from it was an actual live plant. So there is the whole concept of dead and alive," said the artist “Exhibit Features Wide Array of Artistic Creations, South Florida Sun-Sentinel,” by Scott Fishman, Oct. 9, 2014
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/sunrise/fl-cn-exhibit-1005-20141009-story.html 
== Honors and awards ==
In 2018, Gadson was honored with a $100,000 check awarded to his not-for-profit ArtTurnatives for Building Communities (ABCs), by The Jim Moran Foundation in recognition of service to his community, and his work with underserved neighborhoods, and for his work with children. 
In honor of Black History Month, February 2019, Gadson received a proclamation for Community
Involvement, under the nomination of the City of Tamarac, Mayor Michelle J. Gomez. Gadson and his
wife Phyllis have been residents of the City of Tamarac for more than 15 years. Tamarac Honors Five During Black History Month, PRESS RELEASE UPDATED: FEB 9, 2019
https://www.newswire.com/news/tamarac-honors-five-during-black-history-month-20799129 
In August 2019 Gadson received reputable recognition by ArtServe, Fort Lauderdale, as one of South
Florida’s most respected influencers for his contribution to the region’s landscape in the Arts & Culture Visionary Award. https://www.broadwayworld.com/fort-lauderdale/article/Artist-George-Gadson-Receives-Arts-And-Culture-Visionary-Award-20190823 
== Art market ==
In 2016, George Gadson completed two public artwork commissions, 
"Sankofa Monument" installed at a completed commission of $150,000 and "The Kathleen Cooper Wright Monument, "installed as a completed commission of 
$120,000. In a 20 year+ public artwork career, Gadson's public artwork commissions have totaled in excess of $1 million, and
are installed throughout South Florida, from Miami-Dade through Palm Beach Counties. South Florida Artist George Gadson, ShineOnSFL.com https://shineonsfl.com/local-artist-shares-our-culture/ 
== Media ==
In 2016 Gadson was interviewed on 'Broadcast in Entrepreneur' for his expertise on time management
for artists. “Time Managing the Artist” with George Gadson, Regalpoete Broadcast, 2016
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/regalpoete/2015/08/26/time-managing-the-artist-with-george-
gadsonwas featured on 
 
He has also been featured as the guest speak for Art in Black Miami in 2019, as a businessman and
artist, who has managed to combine and nurture art and business, for this event hosted by the
Greater Miami Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, committed to promoting the creative influences of
African Diaspora, Caribbean influences, Latin Americans and global artists who contribute to the fabric
of Miami’s historic and diverse artistic community. The event, held at Dolphins Stadium in Miami,
showcased Gadson as past Superbowl Commissioned sculptor, along with Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver
Gilbert, during Art Basel’s opening weekend, in a year that looked ahead to Super Bowl Miami
2020. “Showcasing Artists During Art Basel,” Gadson Featured Speaker
Art of Black Miami Event, Miami Times, Nov. 27, 2019
https://www.miamitimesonline.com/lifestyles/showcasing-artists-during-art-basel/article_e9cde2de-
1116-11ea-bd0d-175c9df485ea.html 
In 2016, #HotboxArt #SiteAttack was created by Reva Development Corp, to bring public art to an under-served community during an interim period prior to the eventual building of a rehabilitation project to develop art studios for
neighborhood artists. In the end, public art and flower boxes came back to Northwest Historic District, West Palm
Beach, FL. George Gadson facilitated the art and implementation of the initiative. HotBox Art Site Attack The Historic Northwest District, West Palm Beach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GjXWLTvcbw 
==In the media==
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==References==
==External links==
* 
* About the Artist - George Gadson Studios
* George Gadson on linkedin
* GEORGE GADSON STUDIOS | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
* George Gadson - Art - Fine Art America
* Art Psalms:Inspirations of Faith, Hope and Love ... - Amazon.com
Category:1953 births
Category:American artists
Category:Bachelor's degrees
Category:Master's degrees
Category:Duke University alumni
Category:University of Valencia alumni
Category:Arts awards
Category:People from Fort Meade, Florida