Portfolio Gallery "ALL COLORS" Visual Arts Invitational 2020
Portfolio Gallery
Robert Powell founder of Portfolio Gallery
Robert Powell is a self-taught sculptor that creates primarily in the medium of wood and sometimes stone. His background as an Industrial Arts teacher led him to the art arena where he moved away from traditional class projects and started to carve, utilizing chisels and mallets to create African-American furniture. During this period of transition, he developed the life philosophy of “Positive Motivation Through Art” as a motivational vehicle for himself and those that view his creations.
Powell founded the Portfolio Gallery and Educational Center in July of 1989 out of the need to provide a vehicle for African-American artists to teach and exhibit their art. The Portfolio Gallery and Educational Center is active in the St. Louis metropolitan area providing classroom instruction to children, youth, adults and the developmentally disabled. A key mission of the Portfolio Gallery is to provide opportunities for underrepresented emerging African-American artists.
Raymond Thomas, SPOOK, mixed media
The “All Colors” Invitational exhibit showcases some of the most creative and exciting art that mainstream publications have generally overlooked. Artwork utilizing techniques of painting, drawing, sculpture, quilting, silkscreen, and photography will be showcased in an effort to give exposure to artists and generate funds for small nonprofits, community-based organizations, and artists of all disciplines.
The idea for the “All Colors” Invitational exhibition is the result of a mission “tweak” to provide philanthropic support to small not-for-profit 501C3 arts organizations, community organizations, and artists of all disciplines. Robert hopes to generate funds from the sale of art from the annual “All Colors” exhibition to give small grants to assist those groups and individuals that need financial support. Currently, the Portfolio Gallery is providing art grants to arts organizations and not-for-profit organizations to conduct art classes within the St, Louis metropolitan area.
William Burton Jr., Doubting Thomas, pyrography on wood
In addition to the All Colors Invitational hosted by the St. Louis Artists’ Guild, Robert is curating an exhibition of original works by emerging and established African-American female artists, titled, “#BLACKGIRLMAGIC,” and will be conducting educational art activities at the Hannibal Arts Council, in Hannibal Missouri which will be open February 1 - March 15,2020.
Andrea Hughes, Black Queen of the Continent’s Diaspora, mixed media