Alonzo Adams was born in Harlem in 1961. He spent many hours
as a young child drawing. His mother recalls him spending a special day in
the city with his father to go shopping. Alonzo's father told him he could
buy whatever he wanted. His mother expected him to get some school clothes
and shoes or sneakers or something and was quite surprised to see him return
with a big smile and only a pack of white paper to draw on.
Alonzo continued drawing and went on to
receive a B.F.A. from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts,
and later, with a Camille O. Cosby Fellowship, an M.F.A. from University of
Pennsylvania. He is inspired by such greats as Charles White, Henry O.
Tanner, L'hermitte, John Singer Sargent and Rembrandt and has traveled
throughout Europe to study the work in museums there.
With over 25 years as a professional
artist, Alonzo has garnered numerous awards and accolades. He has been
featured in such publications as Art Business News, Black Enterprise,
Images, Homes of Color, Upscale, Uptown and ESPN Magazines as well as the
New York Times, Star Ledger, Courier News and other regional newspapers.
Alonzo's work has been featured in the
"Black Romance" exhibit at the Studio Museum of Harlem. In 2003, three of
his original oils were auctioned at Sotheby's with a phenomenal response. A
portion of the proceed benefited the New York based Strang Breast Cancer
Research Center.
Alonzo was one of the first inductees into
the Rutgers African American Alumnae Association Hall of Fame, established
in 2004. He presently serves on he board of Plainfield, NJ based duCret
School of Art.
Alonzo has been blessed to have many
prominent collectors adorn their homes with his work. Among them, Dr.
William H. Cosby, Dr. Maya Angelou, Alonzo & Tracy Mourning, Zeke Mowatt,
Jasmine Guy, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing, Clinton Portis, Eddie Jones,
Brian Grant, Stephon Marbury, Gary Payton, Lela Rochon, Andre Harrell,
Kenny Lattimore, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Chris Carter, Eddie Jordan, Bishop
Donald Hilliard, Jayson Williams, Steve Harris, Wesley Snipes, Patti
Webster, Earl Graves, Curtis Martin, Charles Oakley, Walter & Donna Pearson
and many more. He has been commissioned to create a number of portraits and
other images of personal significance to some of his special collectors.
Alonzo's mentoring activities range from
inspirational talks with youngsters in the community to working with
aspiring and emerging artists to help them find their own artistic voices
and reach potential collectors. His wife Cydnie coaches them on the
business aspects of selling their work. |
