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Birth of Faith Ringgold
Born as Faith Will Jones in Harlem New York during the Great Depression -
Bachelors Degree in Art Education
Ringgold attended New York City College as an Art Education Major and Graduated in 1955. While her interest was explicitly studying Art, this was considered a male-dominated profession. As a result, if she wanted to study art in the slightest, she would have to enroll as an Art Education Major. -
Masters of Fine Arts Degree
Ringgold was able to fulfill her dream of earning a Master of Fine Arts Degree at The City College of New York. During this time, she was teaching in New York as well as raising her two children Michele and Barbara. -
The American People Series
After art Ringgold's artwork had been rejected time and time again. She started painting for herself, making the transition from painting flowers to paintings that represent the story of Black people living in America. At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, She began painting the American Peoples series that catapulted her art career. -
Solo Show
After 7 years of painting the American People Series, Robert Newman invited Ringgold's to his gallery for a solo show. This is when Ringgold began to paint the Blacklight series. Ringgold's artwork tells a story, and the viewer gets the complete picture by viewing both the American People Series and Black Series in the order she painted them. -
Ad Hoc Womens Art Committe
Ringgold not only was at the forefront of black women in art, but she was also a civil rights and women's rights activist. As a result, Faith along with Lucy Lippar and Poppy Johnson co-founded Ad Hoc Women's Art Committee in an attempt to protest African American art being left out of Museums. -
Story Quilts
Ringgold's art using Story quilts was the start of her career as an author. These quilts allowed Ringgold to incorporate handwritten messages in her artwork. This artwork showcased Black people living in America, which she later turned into children's Books -
Awards for Tar Beach
Tar Beach was originally one of Ringgold's story quilts that had inspired her to turn it into a children's book. Which launched her career as an award-winning children's author. In 1992, she earned the New York Times Best Children's book award, The Coretta Scott King Award for the best-illustrated book by an African American. -
If A Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks
After publishing her book on the Story of Rosa Parks, Ringgold received the NAACP Image Award for Best Children's book. As the book inspired the world to seek justice. -
Black History Makers Award
Due to Ringgold's activism and art that changed the world, the National Conference of artists awarded Ringgold with the Black Art History Makers Award