Birmingham, AL – On Thursday, January 9, the Birmingham Museum of Art invites the public to a thought-provoking panel discussion on artist John Rhoden’s Birmingham roots. The museum’s current exhibition, Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden is on view through April, and offers a comprehensive look at Rhoden’s career, showcasing over 50 works that span his dynamic journey as an artist. From intimate studies to monumental public sculptures, the exhibition celebrates Rhoden’s legacy as a groundbreaking sculptor and his impact on the art world.
The free-of-charge program will chronicle Rhoden’s journey, beginning with his formative years in Birmingham’s Smithfield neighborhood, his education at Parker High School, and his eventual return to the city as an internationally celebrated sculptor. Guests will learn about Rhoden’s artistic and personal milestones, from his early exposure to sculpture to the impactful public works he created in Birmingham, including his tribute to civil rights icon Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.
The distinguished panelists include Dr. Sylvea Hollis, historian and contributor to exhibition catalogue, who will delve into Rhoden’s roots in the Smithfield community; Dr. Penny Seals, UAB professor, who will explore the educational landscape of Parker High School during the 1930s; Wayne Coleman, Head of Archives at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, who will discuss Rhoden’s sculpture honoring Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth; and Dr. Brittany Webb, exhibition curator from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, who will share insights on Rhoden’s early sculptural training and his connection to Legion Field.
In addition to the panel discussion, attendees will receive a special map highlighting key Birmingham locations associated with Rhoden’s life and work, encouraging continued exploration of his legacy throughout the city.
The event is from 6-7pm and is free of charge. For more information, please visit artsbma.org.
About the Exhibition
Born and raised in Birmingham, John Rhoden (1916–2001) was an accomplished twentieth-century African American sculptor. This exhibition presents the first comprehensive retrospective of his artwork.
With a sculptural sensibility defined by his extensive world travels, sensualism, and a breadth of visual influences, Rhoden worked in a style that was ahead of his time. Featuring approximately fifty sculptures in bronze, wood, and stone, the exhibition illustrates the visual and technical mastery of this award-winning artist.
Rhoden attended Industrial High School (now A. H. Parker High School) in Birmingham before attending Talladega College. In 1938, Rhoden moved to New York City where he studied at Columbia University and the New School for Social Research before launching into a sculpture career that took him around the world, resulting in major public commissions throughout the United States and in Birmingham, where his sculpture of the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth stands outside the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
The Birmingham Museum of Art proudly presented Rhoden’s first solo museum exhibition in 1985, and is excited to welcome back this important artist with a retrospective show. A group of works featured in the exhibition will also remain in the permanent collection of the Birmingham Museum of Art, the first sculptures by Rhoden to join the museum’s collection. This gift from the Rhoden Estate will ensure that Rhoden’s legacy remains celebrated in his hometown art museum in perpetuity.
Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden is the first comprehensive retrospective of John Rhoden’s work, and was organized by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
About the Birmingham Museum of Art
Founded in 1951, the Birmingham Museum of Art has one of the finest collections in the Southeast. More than 27,000 objects displayed and housed within the Museum represent a rich panorama of cultures, including Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American. Highlights include the Museum’s collection of Asian art, Vietnamese ceramics, the Kress collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts from the late 13th century to the 1750s, and the Museum’s world-renowned collection of Wedgwood, the largest outside of England.
Red PaSH Magazine is a lifestyle publication. Our slogan is “all your tiny obsessions.” We are strong advocates of self-love, self-care, body positivity and supporting minorities, especially women, people of color and communities not highlighted in mainstream media. Please send pitches to southernpashmag@gmail.com. Please note that we sometimes use affiliate links. If you purchase anything from a link we have provided, we may receive a small commission. This money is used to help support our efforts at PaSH Inc. Check out our sister magazine, PaSH Magazine and Exploregeorgianow.com.
