Rico Gatson, James, 2012
Size: 18 x 24"
AP 6/10
Courtesy the Artist

About the Artist:

Rico Gatson, a multimedia visual artist, delves into themes of history, identity, popular culture, and spirituality through the mediums of sculpture, painting, video, and public art.

For nearly two decades, Gatson has garnered acclaim for his politically nuanced artworks, often rooted in significant moments of black history. His work explores diverse subjects, ranging from the Watts Riots and the formation of the Black Panthers to the historic election of President Barack Obama. Exhibited both nationally and internationally, his portfolio includes shows at prestigious institutions such as the Contemporary Art Museum at the University of South Florida, The Studio Museum in Harlem, NY; The Whitney Museum of American Art, NY; The Brooklyn Museum, The Essl Museum in Austria, Vienna, and The Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC.

In 2019, Gatson completed a noteworthy commission for the MTA Arts and Design titled "Beacons." This project comprised eight permanent, large-scale mosaic portraits showcasing prominent individuals associated with the Bronx. The installation now graces the 167th street subway station on the Grand Concourse. In 2024, Gatson completed a major public project at NY Penn Station for "Art at Amtrak" titled "Untitled (Collective Light Transfer)" installed throughout the entire upper concourse of the station.

His artwork is in numerous private and public collections including esteemed institutions like The Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Studio Museum in Harlem, The Denver Art Museum, The Cheekwood Museum, The Kempner Museum, and The Yale University Art Museum, among others.

Gatson, a distinguished faculty member at the School of Visual Arts and New York University, resides and works in Brooklyn, NY.