Raishad Glover, current Artist in Residence in the 701CCA Gallery will speak about his work and process. Nancy Tolson will moderate. Nancy is the Director of Undergraduate Studies at University of South Carolina in the African-American Studies Department. Nancy is also a Commissioner for the Columbia Museum of Art. 

Raishad Glover Biography

Born in 1980 in Heidelberg, Germany, Raishad JaBar Glover’s educational journey spans several prestigious institutions across the United States. He began his studies at The Governor’s School for the Arts in Greenville, SC, before continuing at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts in New Orleans, LA, where he received his high school diploma. He then attended Xavier University of Louisiana, followed by the Tufts University School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA, where he earned a Studio Diploma. He completed his academic journey by obtaining an MFA from Yale University’s School of Art in New Haven, CT. As a conceptual artist, Glover works with a range of mediums, including lenticular printing, graphite powder, beeswax, Dura-trans/backlit film, analog/digital photography, wool, and LED lights. His work has been featured in publications such as the Boston Globe, Sculpture Magazine, and Southern Living Magazine. Glover’s art has been exhibited at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC; CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan, NY; Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield,MA; Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia SC and Penn Center in St Helena, SC among other venues. Glover has shared his expertise in numerous educational roles throughout his career. He has taught Sustainable Architectural Design at Putney Student Travel, served as a Computing Specialist at the Yale University Digital Media Center for the Arts, and taught Digital Design and Studio Art at Claflin University. Currently, he is a professor of Graphic Design and Visual Art at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, MA. Glover resides in Easthampton, MA, and is represented by The George Gallery in Charleston, SC.

Raishad Glover Artist Statement

Approach:

My artistic process is rooted in diligence and simplicity, bridging innovative culture with traditional media. I engage with core design principles—rhythm, value, line, and color, among others—to shape my creative amalgamation. My practice is further informed by complementary studies, including Root Household Merits (RHM), Cultural Introspection Wealth (CIW), and Ecological Design Services (EDS).

Objective:

I strive to cultivate a dynamic studio environment that nurtures artistic and design foundations. My work embraces semantic aesthetics and structured productivity, drawing from conventional methodologies, algorithmic insights, and abstract concepts. These design objectives create an open-source approach to problem-solving, integrating cultural and historical perspectives with both practical and theoretical strategies to foster harmony and balance.

Research:

Through material exploration and foundational practices, my research delves into pragmatic creativity, self-awareness, and the ways visionary art and design shape relationships and enrich environments. I am committed to deepening my understanding of how these influences drive connection and cultivate meaningful artistic discourse.

Nancy Tolson Biography:

A proud product of the Detroit Public Schools, Dr. Nancy D. Tolson received her Masters and PhD from the University of Iowa, researching the history and development of Black children’s literature. She has been a Ford Fellow, a NEH facilitator, as well as a Fulbright scholar/lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (Ghana) while conducting research on West African folklore. For three years, Tolson was an Illinois Humanities’ “Road Scholar” storytelling throughout the state. She is the author of Black Children’s Literature Got de Blues: The Creativity of Black Writers and Illustrators (2008) and Tales of Africa (1998). She is a commissioner for the Columbia Museum of Art, as well as an active docent there.  More of Nancy’s critical and creative work can be found in various academic journals and books.