Education

MFA    1998-2000       Savannah College of Art and Design, (Presidential Fellowship)

                                    Savannah, Ga.

BS       1988-1992       Tennessee State University

                                    Nashville, Tn.
 

CE       1997                Adobe Illustrator 6.0-7.0
                                    Nashville Technical Institute
 

Invitational Exhibitions: Small Group and Solo

 

2017                GENESIS  (February 2017)

                             COOP Gallery, Nashville, Tn.
                             Participating Artist: Samuel Dunson, Brandon Donahue, Marlos Evan

2016                _LACK HISTORY  (February 2016)

                             Rymer Gallery, Nashville, Tn.
                             Participating Artist: Samuel Dunson

2014                MEET THE FERGUSONS (September 2014)

                             Divinity Art Space Gallery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tn.

                             Participating Artist: Samuel Dunson

2012                SUPERPOWER (August 2012)

                             Rymer Gallery, Nashville, Tn.
                             Participating Artist: Samuel Dunson

2012                Coping Mechanisms (February 2012)

                             John C. Hutcheson Gallery, Nashville, Tn.
                             Participating Artist: Samuel Dunson

2011                Here and Now (January 2011)

                             Thigpen Gallery, Nashville, Tn.
                             Participating Artist: Samuel Dunson

2009                Trading Stories (March 2009)  

                             Estel Gallery, Nashville, Tn.

                             Participating Artists: Samuel Dunson  and Tim Hooper, (Mr. Hooper)

2008                Trivial Pursuit, (October 2008)

                             Divinity Art Space Gallery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tn.

                             Participating Artist: Samuel Dunson

2008                Terra Firma, (March 2008)

                              TAG Art Gallery, Nashville, Tn.

                             Participating Artists: Samuel Dunson and Jason Lascu

2007                Introducing, (October 2007)

                             TAG Art Gallery, (Side Gallery) Nashville, Tn.

                             Participating Artist: Samuel Dunson

2006                ...Fear Itself, (August 2006)

                             Brownlee Currey Jr. Gallery: Watkins College of Art and Design, Nashville, Tn.

                             Participating Artists: Samuel Dunson and Alicia Henry

2006                MySpace,  (May 2006)

                             Thigpen Gallery: Volunteer State Community College,  Gallatin, Tn.

                             Participating Artist: Samuel Dunson

2005                Appropriate Mythology,

                             Arnold Gallery: Shorter College,  Rome, Ga.

                             Participating Artists: Joel Batey and Samuel Dunson

2005                My Heritage, Images from the Family Circus,

                             Pearl Gallery: The Ohio State University,  Mansfield, Oh.

                             Participating Artists: Samuel Dunson and Barbara Nesin
2004                Mother Goose and Other Revisionist Tales,

                             In The Gallery,  Nashville, Tn.

                             Participating Artist: Samuel Dunson

 

Small Group and Solo Exhibitions Prior to 2004

2003                The Watermelon Chronicles, The Arts Center,  St. Petersburg, Fl.
2003                Presenting Samuel Dunson, Americas Arts Gallery, Gettysburg, Pa.
2002                Elevators and Icons, Thigpen Gallery, Shorter College,  Rome, Ga.
2001                Artist’s As, The Arts Company,  Nashville, Tn.
2000                New York or Bust, Residence Park,  Dayton, Oh.
2000                A Day in the Life, Beach Institute, Savannah, Ga.
1999                Spiritual Destinies, In The Gallery,  Nashville, Tn.
1998                Double DD, Susan Demay and Samuel Dunson, In The Gallery, Nashville, Tn.
1998                My Coming of Age, Tennessee Arts Commission Gallery,  Nashville, Tn,
1997                African American History Jamboree, Warner Bros. Studio,  Nashville, Tn.
1996                Jazznet Solo Artist, Nashville Convention Center,, Nashville, Tn.
1996                Dual Beginnings, Hiram Van Gordon Gallery, Tn. State University, Nashville, Tn.

1995                From Beginning to End, In The Gallery, Artrageous 1995, Nashville, Tn.

Invitational Exhibitions: Large Group

2017                Pac Fest

                            Elephant Gallery, Nahville. Tn

2016                External Ballistics

                            Julia Martin Gallery, Nashville, Tn

2016                #615Streets

                            The Rymer Gallery, Nashville, Tn               

2014                The First 100 Retrospective

                           The Rymer Gallery, Nashville, Tn.

2014                The Kinsey Collection

                             Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, Ga.

2014                Personal Best: Works from the collection of Herb Williams

                             OZ Nashville, Nashville, Tn.

2013                Creature

                             Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, Tn.

2011-12           War and Peace          

                             Gallery F, Nashville, Tn.   

2011                Connecting Cultures, (Teaching Artist in connection with the Sudanese Community)

                             Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, Tn.

2011                In The Hands of African American Collectors: The Personal Treasures of Bernard

                        and Shirley Kinsey, Smithsonian Museum of American Culture, Washington D.C.

2010                Hands on Nashville,

                            Rymer Gallery, Nashville, Tn.

2010                Lamentations,

                            Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, Tn.

2010                Art of Protest,

                             Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, Tn.

2008                HVG Biennial, 2008,

                             Hiram Van Gordon Gallery, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tn.

2008                In The Hands of African American Collectors: The Personal Treasures of Bernard

                        and Shirley Kinsey,

                             Turner Museum, West Palm Beach, Fl.

2008                Call and Response,

                             Hiram Van Gordon Gallery, Nashville, Tn.

2007                In The Hands of African American Collectors: The Personal Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey,

                             California African American Museum, Los Angeles, CA : Sankofa Museum, Chicago,

2007                Common Hope, Common Sorrow: Art of the African Diaspora,

                             Cultural Arts Building Gallery, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC

2006                Happenstance,

                             Colour Purple Gallery, Dayton, Oh.
2005                Simply Red,

                             In The Gallery, Nashville, Tn.
2005                Artquest:

                             Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Artquest Artist Space, Nashville, Tn.

                             Work Exhibited: Loose Rope Walker

 

 

Invitational: Large Group Exhibitions Prior to 2004

2003                Faculty Show, Hiram Van Gordon Gallery, Nashville, Tn.
2003                Real Illusions, Frist Center For the Arts, Nashville, Tn.
2002                African American Visions, Nashville International Airport, Nashville, Tn.
2001                Switchyard 2001, Zeitgeist Gallery,  Nashville, Tn.
2001                An Evening with the Arts, Frist Center for the Arts,  Nashville, Tn.
2000                For the Sake of Art,Watkins College of Art and Design, Nashville, Tn.
2000                Caring Artist’s of Tennessee, Art International Museum Gallery of Atlanta,  Atlanta Ga.
2000                Black Heritage Festival, Art Invitational, Savannah Public Library,  Savannah, Ga.
2000                Matters of the Heart, Rapid Transit Gallery, SCAD, Savannah, Ga.
1999                From Africa to America: Honoring Our Ancestors, William King Regional Arts

                        Center, Curated in conjunction with the six hour series: “I’ll Make Me A World: A

                        century of African American Arts”, Abingdon, Va.
1998                Nashville International Airport, Arts in the Airport Project, Nashville, Tn.
1997                Reflections of a People, Juried Arts Invitational,  Nashville, Tn.
1997                Sistah Griot “Telling the Story”, Watkins Institute Gallery,  Nashville, Tn.
                        (Scholarship Commemorating the life of Barbara Bullock)

1997                Visions of My People: A Historic Look at African American Art in Tennessee From

                        the 1920’s to the Present, Tennessee State Museum,  Nashville, Tn.
1997                N4Art Invitational, Vanderbilt University Fine Arts Gallery,  Nashville, Tn.
1997                Garments of Praise:Painted Clothing Exhibition, In The Gallery, Nashville, Tn.
1996                Ebony Showcase ‘96, Oak Ridge Arts Center,  Oak Ridge, Tn.
1995                Black History Show and Sell, Woodmont Gallery, Woodmont, Tn.
1994                The Aces, Nashville Convention Center,  Nashville, Tn.

 

Art Festivals and Benefits
 

2016                Nashville Walls Project: #Hero

                            Bankers Alley: Nashville, Tn.

2015                Norf Wall Fest

                             D.B. Todd Bridge Underpass

2006, '07, '08   Embrace Atlanta, Arts Festival

                             Mason Murer Fine Arts, Atlanta, Ga.

2004,'05          If I Had a Brick, Benefit for the Dan Rudy Cancer Center

                             LP Field Auditorium, Nashville, Tn.
1999, '03,‘04   National Black Arts Festival

                             The Puck Center, SOHO New York, NY

1999,’00, ‘01,’02   Artists For Oasis

                             The Finer Things Gallery, Nashville, Tn.

2000, ‘01         Fest deVille,

                             War Memorial Plaza,  Nashville, Tn.

2000                Artclectic 11,

                             University School of Nashville,, Nashville, Tn.

 

Art Festivals and Benefits Prior to 2000

​

1996, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99 Black Creativity, The Museum of Science and Industry, ‘99, Chicago, IL.
1996, ‘98         Central South Art Exhibition, The Parthenon Gallery,, Nashville, Tn.
1994, ‘96, ‘97  Totally Artcentric, Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, Nashville, Tn.
1996                Artrageous, In The Gallery, Nashville, Tn

 

Bibliography

 

2009                Will Ayers, “Estel Showcases Narrative Paintings...”, 

                        The Tennessean Newspaper:  May 5, 2009

 

2008                Eric Brown, "Illustrating a Trivial Pursuit:" Spirituality and the Community",

                        The Talented Tenth:   November 2008

                       

                        “Trivial Pursuit”,

                        The Tennessean: October 30, 2008

                       

                        David Maddox, “Anything But Firm”,

                         Nashville Scene: March 13, 2008

 

2004                Alan Bostick, "Rhymes, Riddles and Racism",

                        The Tennessean Newspaper:

 

 

2003                Janel Stephens, "Immersed in Art 24 hours a Day",

                        St Petersburg Times:  March 30, 2003

                       

“The Big Idea” video created for  The Frist Center for the Arts,  Nashville, Tn.

 

 

2003                Ruby Green gallery artist interview (Warhol Initiative),  Nashville, Tn

 

2002                Alan Bostick, "Four Artists to Watch",

                        The Tennessean Newspaper: Apr. 21, 2002

                       

                        "Elevators and Icons, Comes to Shorter",

                        Rome News Tribune: Jan. 14 2002
 

2002                Participating artist in an Artist Documentary benefiting the Metro Arts Council

                        Nashville, Tn

 

Publications

 

2012                Nothing to Hide, The Genius of Samuel Dunson, Nashville Arts Magazine, June 2012

 

2009                A Finished Revolution, ZZ Packer, The Oxford American Magazine, Jan. 2009
 

2007                The Liberation of Samuel Dunson,  Ned Andrew Solomon, Nashville Arts Magazine,

                        December 2007

 

2006                Creative Expressions, Bi-Annual Publication through Vanderbilt Children's Hospital

 

2005                Mother Goose and Other Revisionist Tales, Susan Knowles , reviews, Art Papers

 

2000                New American Paintings, Regional Competitions, MFA Annual

 

1999                State of Mind: The Artistry of Tennessee, 40th anniversary calendar for the Phillips

                        Printing Company

 

Fellowships/Awards

 

2012                100 under 100: The New Superstars of Southern Art

                        Selected By Peers of Oxford American Magazine

 

2000                Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient (Graduate Painting)

                        Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Ga

 

2000                 Artlink International Young Artist Auction, Sotheby's
                        New York City, NY

 

1999                Presidential Fellowship Recipient

                        Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Ga

 

1996                Southern Arts Federation Grant Finalist

 

1990                John Arterberry Art Scholarship Recipient

                        Tennessee State University
 

1989                General Motors Honor Scholarship Recipient, Moraine, Oh.

Visiting Juror/Curator

 

2012                Midstate University Student Exhibition, Cummins Station Gallery, Nashville, Tn.

2010                Vanderbilt University, Hamblet Award Juror, Nashville, Tn

2009                Metro Nashville Arts Commission Public Arts Program, Artist Designed Bike Racks

                        Selection Committee, Nashville, Tn.

2008                Volunteer State Community College,  Student Art Show Juror, Nashville, Tn.

2007                Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Future/Now: Mid-State Majors, Co Juror,, Nashville, Tn.

2006                Brownlee Currey Jr. Gallery, Watkins College of Art and Design Student Art Show Juror

2005                Maplewood High School, Community Roots: Mural Project for the Frist Center
                        Frist Center for the Arts.Gordon Contemporary Arts Project Co-Juror, 2007-8 schedule

2002                Shorter College, Student Art Show Juror, Rome, Ga.

 

 

Professional Services – Lectures/Presentations/Panel Discussions

 

2012                Nash-up, Panel Discussion as part of Artober at the Frist, Frist Center for the Visual Arts

 

2009                Has it Really Taken Hold if You Don't Take it Home,  Panelist Frist Center for the Visual Arts

 

2008                Trivial Pursuit Lecture, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tn.

                       

                        Getting Complex: Complicating the Definition of the Black Male in Art, Panelist, Tennessee                                     State University, Nashville, Tn.

                       

                        The Black Male: (Re)Examining Visual Identity, "Play Your Part, Examining the Roles

                        Black Males Play in Order to Find Their Path in Art" Panelist, SECAC, New Orleans, LA.

 

2007                Artist Lecture, Presenting Samuel Dunson Tennessee Arts League, Nashville, Tn.

 

2006                Visiting Artist Lecture  University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC

                       

                        Exhibiting Artist Lecture Watkins College of Art and Design, Nashville, Tn.

 

2005                Artist Forum..Samuel Dunson and Bryce McCloud  Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, Tn

                       

                        The Socio-Political Black Male, Panelist Ruby Green Gallery, Nashville, Tn.

 

2004                Visiting Artist Lecture, Fisk University Art Department, Nashville, Tn.

 

 

Commissions

2004                Mural Commissioned for Dangure’s Cafeteria

2003                Painting Commissioned for the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital
1998                Book cover commissioned for “Over the Bridge” by author Brian Egeston
1997                Painting created for the “Let Freedom Ring” concert series: Commissioned by the

                        Nashville Symphony Orchestra
1997                Mural Commissioned by the Wharton Arts Magnet School, Nashville, Tn.
1997                Magazine cover illustration commissioned by the YMCA Youth Mentoring Program
1994                Jazz South Compilation CD cover Design Winner, Through the Southern Arts Federation

 

Professional Organizations

 

2008                SECAC- South Eastern College Arts Conference

2006-2014       CAA- College Arts Association
1996                VAAN-  Visual Arts Alliance of Nashville
1994                N4Art-  Nashville African American Arts Association
1992                President of Alpha Gamma Tau Art Guild (Tennessee State University)

 

Collections

 

Tennessee State Museum

Tennessee Performing Arts Center

Tennessee Arts Commission

Vanderbilt University

Savannah College of Art and Design

Tennessee State University

Jill Scott (singer)

Roy Orbison Foundation

Councilman Ronnie Stein

Bernard Kinsey

Ken Morrow

Vanderbilt University Children's Hospital

Nia Long (actress)

Shorter College

Beech Institute Savannah Georgia