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.
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.
