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John Biggers John Biggers (1924 - 2001) Hampton Institute, Hampton, VA; Pennsylvania State University, B.S., M.S., Ph.D. Long recognized as a prolific master of American painting, in recent years John Biggers has emerged as a central figure in the world of African-American art. Many of his early works, particularly his highly acclaimed murals, belong to the history of 1930’s Regionalism. “The role of art is to express the triumph of the human spirit over the mundane and material. It is also to express the universal myths and archetypes of the universal family of man.” His current retrospective The Art of John Bigger’s: View from the Upper Room is touring several museums nationally. The list of awards and honors granted Dr. Biggers is extensive and impressive. Included is a 1957 UNESCO Fellowship that allowed him to study traditional cultural patterns in West Africa. This research greatly influenced his work. Dr. Biggers, who helped found the art department at Texas Southern University, retired from a distinguished academic career in 1983 in order to focus on his own work. One-person exhibitions include the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX; Museum of Afro-American History and Culture, Dallas, TX; United States Information Agency, traveling exhibition to African countries, Selected group exhibitions include Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Ca; California Museum of Science and Industry, Los Angeles, CA; University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; Howard University Art Museum;Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY. Dr. Biggers work is in the collection of the Dallas Museum of Art; Atlanta University Museum; Hampton University Museum; Howard University; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution; Lubbock Museum; Texas Southern University; numerous private collections. Honors and awards: Texas Artist of the Year; Pennsylvania State University, teaching fellow; UNESCO Fellowship; among many others.   Begin slide show