In a world of black and white, Jeffrey Gibson’s art stands out with its bright and vibrant colors. But not only that, he mixes indigenous handicraft (leathers, quilts, and beadwork) with contemporary elements such as song lyrics and slogans.
Gibson is a Choctaw/Cherokee painter and sculptor.
Jeffrey Gibson with his works displayed at the Seattle Art Museum (2019).
Growing up, Gibson lived in many different countries, including Germany, America, and South Korea, because of his dad’s job at the United States Department of Defense. He got his degrees at School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Royal College of Art, but his graduate education was sponsored by Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, which he feels made him an even stronger artist.
The artist publicly identified himself as queer and even started a family with Rune Olsen, a Norwegian artist!
Stand Your Ground telling us that religion, gender, and nationhood doesn’t matter
Gibson mainly works with weaving, and his materials such as beads and jingles makes the artist feel connected to the world more globally. (i.e., beads originate in Europe, contemporary beads from Asia, and jingles from Taiwan). He also primarily uses pop music as an inspiration.
They Teach us Love exhibition (2024).
https://events.wsu.edu/event/jeffrey-gibson-they-teach-love-exhibition/
In 2019, Jeffrey Gibson was awarded $625,000 from the “MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grants”, which is given to those who’ve shown exceptional creativity, achievements, and promise for the future.
Currently, Gibson lives in Hudson Valley, New York, and as an artist, he wants to create more works that experiment with new styles and aesthetics without any pressure.
Check out more of his works on his instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffrune/?hl=en.