Frank Frazier Retrospective: The Visionary. The Advocate. The Artist.

Mar 21, 2023

Frank Frazier Retrospective: The Visionary. The Advocate. The Artist.

April 7 – June 27, 2023

A selection of more than 30 works from the collections of Renee Brooks, Dr. Michael Butler, Dr. Damien Fisher, the Tom Joyner Foundation, The Frazier Family Collection, and other collectors from around the United States will be on view at the African American Museum of Dallas from April 7 – June 27, 2023.

The exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to explore narratives of the African Diaspora while engaging in works that connect ancestral history with our contemporary world. The works of Frazier illustrate traditions in daily life, culture, history, and the impact of one’s commitment to the arts.

The Frank Frazier Retrospective spans over five decades of creativity, activism, and Black art. An engagement of life and culture transcends through mediums, mark making, and dialogue in this retrospective. Frazier’s ability to capture Black life, struggles, joy, and connectivity enables viewers to connect in an aesthetic exploration of the power of reclamation, knowledge of one’s history perfected through the art of storytelling.

Frank Frazier, a nationally acclaimed artist and Purple Heart awarded veteran, has been creating art for over 60 years. A New York native, but home to Dallas visual artist, Frazier has inspired many artists and art enthusiasts through his exhibitions across the United States. His legacy not only resides in his art, but also through his passion for assisting and guiding artists. As a supporter of museums, galleries, and organizations, Frazier continually creates bodies of work that illustrate historical moments and present Black experiences that not only educate but unite communities at large.

Frank Frazier

Guest Curator: Emmanuel Gillespie

Emmanuel Gillespie was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He received his BFA from the University of North Texas and later earned his Master of Art from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Gillespie works with mixed media in both 2D and 3D forms. As a creator for over 20 years, Gillespie has completed several public art projects in Dallas. Some most notable works include site-specific sculptures for the Bexar Street Corridor, the design for the DART bus station for the DART Green Line project, and a statue commission of Ernie Banks for the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Gillespie utilizes his artistic practice as a conduit for community engagement. Emmanuel Gillespie has a long history with the Dallas/Fort Worth communities through his studio art instruction. In addition, his administrative work in implementing art programs in collaboration with the African American Museum of Dallas, South Dallas Cultural Center, and other institutions, foster an appreciation for the arts for our youth and adults. His curatorial work in galleries and museums nationally provide visual narratives of the African diaspora while highlighting visual artists.