ONAJIDE SHABAKA
EDUCATION
• Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, Vermont, MFA in Visual Art – 1998-2000
• Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, BFA in Photography – 1990-1993
• Pacific Fashion Institute, San Francisco, California – 1973-1974
• California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, California – 1971-1972
• Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California – 1970
• Los Angeles Harbor College, Wilmington, California – 1967-1969
• Oakwood University, Huntsville, Alabama – 1966-1967
TEACHING
2002-2009 - Florida Atlantic University, Dept. of Visual Arts and Art History, Main Campus,
Boca Raton, FL – Adjunct & Visiting Professor
2000-2002 - Broward Community College, Dept. Visual & Performing Arts, Adams Campus,
Davie, FL - Adjunct Professor
1995-2000 - Miami-Dade Community College, Dept. of Arts and Philosophy, Wolfson Campus,
Miami, FL - Adjunct Professor
COURSES TAUGHT
Florida Atlantic University, Dept. of Arts and Philosophy, Main Campus, Boca Raton, FL - digital photography - photography 1, photography 2, photographic computer imaging, photography & creative non-fiction writing, computer imaging for fine arts Broward Community College, Dept. of Arts & Philosophy, Adams Campus, Davie, FL - Adjunct Professor - computer art, web design, art appreciation Miami-Dade Community College, Dept. of Arts and Humanities, Wolfson Campus, Miami, FL - Adjunct Professor - painting, beginning drawing, figure drawing, 2-D design, 3-D design, art appreciation, art history
GALLERY/MUSEUM
2001 - Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art, Lake Worth, FL – freelance preparator
1998-2000 - A+ Resources Gallery, Miami, FL – freelance preparator
1998-2000 - Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA – freelance preparator
1994-1996 - Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, FL – preparator, interim facilities manager
1996 - Skot Foreman Fine Art, Ltd., Dania, FL – freelance preparator
1994-1996 - Peter Fetterman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA – freelance preparator
EXHIBITION RECORD - SOLO EXHIBITIONS
ARTIST WRITER LECTURER | INDEPENDENT CURATOR
2007-2008 “Evoking Spirit, Embracing Memory,” The Village of Arts and Humanities, Philadelphia,
PA (public art commission)
2007 “Mangrove Walk,” Artscapes, Greynolds Park, Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Dept., North
Miami Beach, FL
“Lake Superior - North Shore Walk,” Grand Marais, Minnesota (Action: September)
“Dry Lake - Low Lake Trail Walk,” BWCRA Minnesota (Action: September, 2007)
2006 “Lake Burntside Walk,” Ely, Minnesota (Action: July, 2006)
2005 “Strong, Spirit, Medicine,” EdgeZones - World Arts Bldg, Miami, FL
“Logging Trail Walk,” BWCRA Minnesota (Action: August, 2005)
2004 “Bass Lake Trail Walk,” BWCRA Minnesota (Action: July, 2004)
2003 “Journey,” Miamiartexchange.com
2002 “Recent Works: photographic & drawing,” Miami-Dade Cultural Resource Gallery, Miami, FL
2000 Anoint My Flesh: MFA Thesis Exhibition,” Vermont college of Norwich University, Montpelier
“Vulture Project & Performance,” St. Lucie Locks, St. Lucie River, Martin Co., FL
“Feature Artist,” South Florida Arts and Culture, http://www.digitalcity.com
1999 “Vulture Project & Performance,” Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, FL
“Seraphic Light,” Vermont College of Norwich University, Montpelier, VT
1998 “Mangrove-Mud-Mystery,” Matheson Hammock Park, Coral Gables, FL
1997 “Cotton & Iron: Another View,” Century21 Galleries, North Miami, FL
1996 “Cotton & Iron,” Interamerican Gallery, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, FL
1995 “Condition of Unfocus,” University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR
1994 “Water is Both the Barrier and the Passageway,” Center for the Arts, Stuart, FL
1972 “Images of Life, Death, and the Unknown,” The New Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1970 “Solo Exhibition,” The Studio, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2011 "Self Lit," 18 Rabbit Gallery at the Projects, Fort Lauderdale, FL (installation)
2011 “Miami Wave,” Art Naples special exhibition (drawing, photography)
2011 "Unpunished," Sue Scott Gallery, NYC, 20 Jan. – 27 Feb., curated by Nayland Blake
2010 “Sweat Portfolio, Phase 1″ — 9 October – 10 November 10 (printmaking) Artlab33 Art Space, Miami, Florida
2010 “Hidden in the Mangrove Forest” — 11 September – 2 October, 2010 in collaboration
with ArtoConecto, (also showing gallery artists) Artlab33 Art Space, Miami, Florida
2010 “Three-by-Six” — 27 May, 24 June, and 29 July, 2010 (time-based performance,
spoken word, slides, audio sound track) Artlab33 Art Space, Miami, Florida
2010 “DCG Open” - June 12 - July 3, 2010 (sculpture) David Castillo Gallery, Miami, Florida
2010 “Common Ground” — 13 March – 30 March, 2010 (drawing) Artlab33 Art Space, Miami
2008 “Adjunct Faculty Group Show,” Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
2007 “Evoking Spirit Embracing Memory,” Village of Arts & Humanities, Philadelphia, PA
2006 “Adjunct Faculty Group Show,” Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
2005 “A Pulp Fictitious,” art reception & silent auction, private event for Art Basel Miami Beach
2004 “One True Thing: Meditations on Black Aesthetics, Kerry James Marshall,” (including
works by Onajide Shabaka), Miami Art Museum, Miami, FL
“Nepotism: The Art of Friendship,” Museum of Art Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
“Index Miami,” Edge Zones, Miami, FL
2003 “Drawing Conclusions,” Buena Vista Bldg, Miami Design District, Miami, FL
“The Diaspora Speaks: African American Artists from the Permanent Collection,"
South Dade Regional Library, Miami-Dade County
“FAU Faculty Exhibition,” Ritter Art Gallery, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
2002 “Contemporary Black Artists,” Broward Community College Fine Arts Gallery,Davie
“Mirror, Mirror,” Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, Miami, FL
2001 “Nguzo Saba,” African Heritage Cultural Center, Miami, FL
“Hurricane Show,” New Gallery, Univ. of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
“Summer Tossed Salad,” Kevin Bruk Gallery, Miami, FL
“Vulture Vida,” Miami Courthouse, Miami, FL
“Adjunct Faculty Exhibition,” Broward Community College, Davie, FL
“Photography Works from the Permanent Collection,” Center for the Arts, Vero Beach
1999 “All God’s Children Got Shoes,” Miami-Dade Public Library, Main Library, Miami, FL
1998 “Assembly Line,” Dorsch Gallery, Miami, FL
“African-American Art in South Florida,” Gallery North, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami
1997 “3 Person Group Show,” Galerie Douyon, Miami, FL
“Florida Provenance: Mixed Media Works from the Permanent Collection,” Center for the Arts, Vero Beach
1996 “Crossings,” Gallery Antigua, Miami, FL
“Ethereal Images: Photographic Installations,” Southeast Museum of Photography, Daytona Beach
Community College, Daytona, FL
1995 “The Black Box Project,” Ground Level Gallery of Art Center South Florida, Miami Beach, FL
“Sculpture in the Landscape,” University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
1994 “Where the Water Tastes Like Cherry Wine,” Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland FL
“Chiaroscuro: 1994 Montgomery Biennial,” Montgomery Museum of Art, Montgomery
“The Body Beautiful,” Lower Columbia College, Longview, WA
“Miami DADA,” Bianca Lanza Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
“Exodus,” Ground Level Gallery of Art Center South Florida, Miami Beach, FL
1993 “Collage & Assemblage,” Center for the Arts, Vero Beach, FL
“Southern Roots: South Florida Invitational,” Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
“Miami/Beach Exchange,” Ground Level Gallery of Art Center South Florida, Miami Beach
“A Caribbean Affair: Watercolor and Photography,” The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts,
Eatonville, FL
“African American Artists,” City Hall Gallery, Orlando, FL
1992 “Next Generation: Southern Black Aesthetic,” (tour), Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans
“Next Generation: Southern Black Aesthetic,” (tour), Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando
“Next Generation: Southern Black Aesthetic,” (tour), Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
1991 “Next Generation: Southern Black Aesthetic,” (tour), Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida, Gainesville
“Next Generation: Southern Black Aesthetic,” (tour), Hunter Museum of Art, Chattanooga, TN
“Interior Motives, Interior Motifs,” Lower Columbia College, Longview, WA
“Impressions: From Afrika to Amerika,” Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, Miami
“Martin County Black Heritage Association Invitational,” Martin County Cultural
Courthouse, Stuart, FL
1990 “Next Generation: Southern Black Aesthetic,” (tour), Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art,
Winston-Salem, NC
“Ten Years of Kuumba: 1980-1990,” North Gallery, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami
“Miami: Thriving in change (1940-1990),” North Dade Regional Library, North Beach Miami
“Photography Today,” Peter Drew Gallery, Boca Raton, FL
“Three Black Artists,” Northwood University, W. Palm Beach, FL
1989 “Sea Oaks Invitational,” Sea Oaks Resort, Vero Beach, FL
“Florida Competitive,” Center for the Arts, Vero Beach, FL
“38th All Florida Juried Competition,” Boca Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL
“Zack-Schuster Gallery Invitational,” Zack-Schuster Gallery, Aventura, FL
“Boke N’Deye,” Bakehouse Art Complex Main Gallery, Miami, FL
1988 “Kuumba Artists Showcase,” Model City Cultural Center, Miami, FL
“Vero Beach Art Club Invitational,” Center for the Arts, Vero Beach, FL
1987 “Ancestral Projections,” North Dade Regional Library, North Miami Beach, FL
“Native Son,” Model City Cultural Center, Miami, FL
1968 “Onajide Shabaka – Ray Bravo,” Watts Towers Art Center Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
COLLECTIONS
Center for the Arts, Vero Beach, FL
Shoreline School District, Seattle, WA
Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood, WA
Sequim School District, Sequim, WA
Village of Arts & Humanities, Philadelphia, PA
SELECTED AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS
1994 – New Forms Florida, Individual Artist Grant
1994 – Individual Artist Fellowship, Florida Department of Cultural Affairs.
1989 – Purchase Award, mixed-media photography, “Annual Florida Competitive, Vero Beach Art Museum
1988 – Florida Humanities Council (symposium)
1987 – Merit Award, watercolor, Sunstreet Festival, Miami, FL
1987 – Judges Recognition, photography, Sunstreet Festival, Miami, FL
1987 – Purchase Award, watercolor, “Native Son” exhibition, Model City Cultural Center, Miami, FL
BIBLIOGRAPHY WORKS IN CATALOGUES
“SuperMix: Union of the Diverse, Contemporary Art in Miami, Charo Oquet, Editor, Edge Zones Press, Miami, 08
“ArtForum magazine,” April, 2008
“Continental Shifts: The Art of Edouard Duval Carrie,” Edward J. Sullivan, Editor, Herman
Middelanis, Joel Weinstein, Donald J. Cosentino, Publisher: Diego Costa Peuser, 2007
“Issue-Orients Art,” Art & Antiques, Dec., 2007, (illustrated article)
“Callaloo,” Journal of African Diaspora Arts & Letters, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007
“Miami Contemporary Artists,” Paul Clemence & Julie Davidow, Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA. 2007
“Art + Auction” (various photographs for article on Miami), Dec., 2006
“Face of the Gods: Art and Altars of Africa and African America,” Museum for African Art, New York
“Conversations – Interamerican Art Gallery,” Miami-Dade Community College Interamerican Art Gallery, Miami
“Ethereal Images: Photographic Installations,” Southeast Museum of Photography,
Daytona Beach Community College, Daytona, FL
“Crossings,” Gallery Antigua, Miami, FL
“Sculpture in the Landscape,” University of Miami campus, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
“Where the Water Tastes Like Cherry Wine,” Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL
“Chiaroscuro: 1994 Montgomery Biennial,” Montgomery Museum of Fine Art, Montgomery, AL
“Southern Roots: 3rd South Florida Invitational,” Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
“Next Generation: Southern Black Aesthetic,” Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, NC
“Miami/Beach Exchange,” Art Center South Florida, Miami Beach, FL
“Florida Competitive,” Center for the Arts, Vero Beach, FL
REVIEWS/ARTICLES
Turner, Elisa, “Exhibit captures small-town feel of African-American like,” The Miami Herald, Miami, 12 March, 98
Cantor, Judy, “Cotton & Iron: Another View,” New Times, Miami, FL, 5 March, 1997
Turner, Elisa, “Cotton & Iron – redux,” The Miami Herald, Miami, FL, 4 April, 1997
Morgan, Ann Barclay, “Ethereal Images,” Sculpture, July/August 1996
Pierce, Susan, “UALR’s 3 Galleries,” Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Little Rock, AR, 29 October, 1995
Dean, Kevin, and Kipling, Kay, “The American Experience: Onajide Shabaka,” The Longboat Observer, Sarasota, FL 7 January, 1993
Tagliarini, Lynda, “Artist advocates multiculturalism,” Fort Pierce Tribune, Ft. Pierce, FL, 21 May, 1993
Kangas, Matthew, “Common Ground Separates Choices (Next Generation),” Art in America, New York, NY, Vol. 80, No.3, March, 1992
Feature Article, The News Tribune, Fri., 24 May, 1991
Patterson, Tom, “Focus on New African American Art,” The Arts Journal, June, 1990, Vol. 15, No.8, Winston-Salem, NC
McQuaid, Kathy, “Black Aesthetic is emerging,” Journal Messenger, Manassas, VA, 20 November, 1990
Butler, Jeri, “Rejoicing in one’s heritage,” The Stuart News, Stuart, FL, 21 February, 1989
Pulliam, Nisha, “Fort Pierce resident shows off works at Kuumba Artists Association
Exhibition,” The Palm Beach Post, W. Palm Beach, FL, 11 February, 1989
Pulliam, Nisha, “Boca Museum Juried Exhibition,” June, 1989
INTERVIEWS
“Conversations – Interamerican Art Gallery,” Miami-Dade Community College
Interamerican Art Gallery, Miami, FL, 1996
“TCTV – Vero Beach Live,” Vero Beach, FL, May 1989
“TCTV – Vero Beach Live,” Vero Beach, FL, July 1989
Wilder, Anne, “His Dream,” Fort Pierce Tribune, Ft. Pierce, FL 1977
Wilder, Anne, “African Heritage,” Fort Pierce Tribune, Ft. Pierce, FL, 31 July, 1977
Bartlett, John, “African Import Shop,” The Palm Beach Post, St. Lucie Co. edition, 23 February, 1977
VISITING ARTIST LECTURES, PERFORMANCES, ETC.
2010 “Global Caribbean(s): Interrogating the Politics of Location in Caribbean Literature and Culture,
”The University of Miami, Coral Gables - March 2010 Research Presentation: African American Burial
Shrines of Florida
2004 Panel Discussion: Meditations on Cultural Aesthetics, Miami Art Museum, Miami, FL
2001 Artist-in-residence, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
1996 Slide Lecture, Black and White Men Together, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1995 Slide Lecture, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
1990 “The Validity of African American Art,” slide lecture, Norton Museum of Art, W. Palm Beach, FL
1989 “Tradition and Change in the Next Decade,” lecture, Cultural Arts Conference, Ft. Pierce, FL
1988 Artist-in-residence, Indian River County School District, Vero Beach, FL
1998 Guest Lecturer, College Reach-Out Program, Indian River Community College, Ft. Pierce, FL
WRITINGS
“Living With Contradictions,” www.miamiartexchange.com, 23 November, 2002
“Ultrabaroque: Post-, Hybridity, and Latin American Art,” www.miamiartexchange.com, 20 July, 2002
“Is it real, or is it…: the work of Donald Lipski,” www.miamiartexchange.com, 7 June, 2002
“Houses of the Spirit,” www.miamiartexchange.com, 5 March, 2002
“The Structure of Puryear,” www.miamiartexchange.com, 16 July, 2001
“Homage to Denise Andrews,” www.miamiartexchange.com, 26 April, 2001
“Equal but Separate Exhibition,” www.miamiartexchange.com, 3 November, 2000
“Medicines of a Reconstructed Past: African American Burial Art in Florida,” Tomb With a View, Lyndhurst, OH, Spring 1997
“Interview with Gary Moore,” Art Papers, Vol. 20, Jan/Feb 1996, pp. 10-13
“View From Beyond the Scared Garden: Interview with Edouard Duval-Carrié,” Art Papers, Vol. 20, Jul/Aug 1996, pp. 14-17 NTU ArtsNewsletter, Editor, Publisher, 1989-1991
“Glassman: Dale Chihuly,” Sarasota Arts Review, Vol. 5 Issue 3, December, 1994, pp. 10-14
Freelance Writer, The Florida Mirror, Palm Beach County, FL 1989
“Afrikan Roots,” weekly columnist, The Chronicle, Ft. Pierce, FL, August-October, 1997
COMMUNITY SERVICE CONFERENCES ORGANIZED
Cultural Arts Conference, Director&Moderator,1990 Leadership Conference, NTU ArtsNewsletter, Ft.Pierce, 11/30/90
Cultural Arts Conference, Director, Afro-American Cultural Exposition for the Arts, Ft. Pierce, FL, 1989
“Spirit of a People,” Co-Director and Project Consultant, symposium sponsored by
Florida Humanities Council and Center for the Arts, Vero Beach, FL, 1988
ORGANIZATIONS
2007 current - South Florida Artist Entrepreneurs Group, Founder, Organizer
1998 African Diaspora Fine Arts Committee, Education Committee, Miami, FL
1995 Art Center South Florida, Exhibition Committee, Miami Beach, FL
1988-1994 Kuumba Artists Association, Board of Directors, Miami, FL
1993 South Carolina Arts Commission, FYI 1994-95, Juror, Individual Artist Fellowship
1990 St.Lucie County Cultural Affairs Council,Reorganization Sub-committee on Mission Statement/Bylaws
1989 Treasure Coast Fine Arts Festival, St. Lucie County Department of Parks and Recreation, Art Juror
1988 Martin County Black Heritage Association, Board of Directors, Stuart, FL
1988 “Black Gold: The Wealth of African and African American Culture,” Steering
Committee, sponsored by Florida Humanities Council and St. Lucie County Department of Parks and
Recreation, Ft. Pierce, FL