Artist Bio

The Artist// Dante

“My mission is to create art that mimics true life experiences, by embracing what pleases me but also that which disturbs me.  Even those experiences that are not so positive, I aim to articulate in a beautiful way.”   — Dante

Dante Yarbrough was born in East Cleveland, Ohio.  His earliest artistic influences were a pen and ink illustrated book, Andrew Henry’s Meadow; his older brother, accomplished artist, Jonathan Yarbrough; and childhood friend and current artist Rene Polin.

Dante earned a BFA degree from Clark Atlanta University and currently resides and works in Atlanta, Georgia.  He has exhibited in solo and group shows in Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Columbus and Cleveland, OH; Louisville, KY; Nashville, TN; New York, NY; Tempe, Arizona; and Washington, D.C.  He has been commissioned by Clark Atlanta University, West Georgia University (Carrollton), Red Oak Community Center (Fulton County, Georgia), the City of Atlanta, and HJ Russell & Company.

Collectors of the artist’s work include Vanderbilt University, The Honorable Mayor Shirley Franklin, Ambassador Andrew Young, Atlanta’s Chief of Police Richard Pennington, television actress Anna Marie Horsford, best-selling author Nathan McCall, the America’s Mart (Atlanta, GA), the Frank Ski Foundation, noted collectors Drs. Jeff and Sivan Hines, noted collectors Elzy and Evern Epps, and broadcast journalist Ed Gordon.  Dante’s piece, “Absent Curriculum,” was awarded the 2008 Purchase Prize presented during the 14th Annual African American Art Exhibition in Louisville, Kentucky.  Dante was recently named the featured artist for the 20th Anniversary of the National Black Arts Festival in July of 2008.  Most recently, he is the commissioned artist for the Verizon Wireless 2009 advertising campaign, How Sweet the Sound.

Dante’s art is interested in aesthetics and that which happens when shape and form disappear into color.  Dante’s treatment of color is one that subverts traditional color theory, in the way in which he marries colors in atypical methods.  In his early work, Dante shows the body as loose figurative renderings.  His later paintings portray the body as abstract, depicting a complete ghosting of the physical body.  His work at large is concerned with issues provoked by the fragility of mankind and the way in which both humanity’s indiscretions and triumphs contribute to a larger social body.

RESUME

Education

Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA

BA, Fine Art, May 1992

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2010

· “Eclipsing Corporeality: Depictions of and Beyond the Body,” Skylight Gallery.”    Brooklyn, New York.

2009

· “Soiree,” Savoy Gallery.  Columbus, Ohio

· NYLA Simone Home, Tempe, AZ

2007-2008

· 20th Annual National Black Arts Festival Featured Artist, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA

· “Urban Art Lives,” Free Arts of Arizona Benefit Show, NYLA Simone Home, Tempe, AZ

· “New Works,” Clay’s Gallery, Atlanta, GA

Selected Group Exhibitions

2009

· “Abstractions,” Guichard Gallery, Chicago, IL

· “Art Auction Benefit 2009,” Hammonds House Museum & Resource Center for African American Art, Inc., Atlanta, GA

· “Say My Name,” Stuart McClain Gallery, Atlanta, GA

· “Hostin and Levy Home Show,” Pelham, NY

· “Sisters and Friends Art Exhibition,” Bloomington, IL

2008

· “All That Jazz – A Black Tie Affair,” Tubman African American Museum, Macon, GA

· “StudioPlex Art Walk,” StudioPlex, Atlanta, GA

· “Noble Soul-The A List Art Exhibition,” Renaissance Walk, Atlanta, GA

· Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys Art Auction, Ritz Carlton, Atlanta, GA

· “Interpretations of Albums in the Hip Hop Genre,” Southwest Fulton Arts Center, Atlanta, GA

· “East Atlanta Art Stroll Modern Art & Architecture,” Atlanta, GA

2007

· 11th Annual Black Fine Arts Show, New York, NY

· “Embrace,” 2007 Fine Arts Fair, Mason Murer Fine Art, Atlanta, GA

· Group Exhibition, Avisca Fine Art Gallery, Marietta, GA

· “City Gallery East Pin Up Show,” City Hall East, Atlanta, GA

· D.C. Fine Art Expo, Washington, D.C.

2005-2006

· 2005-2009 “Masterful Mix” Art Auction, Hammonds House Museum & Resource Center for African   American Art, Inc., Atlanta, GA

· 10th Annual Black Fine Arts Show, New York, NY

· “Embrace,” 2006 Fine Arts Fair, Mason Murer Fine Art, Atlanta, GA

· Group Exhibition, Avisca Fine Art Gallery, Marietta, GA

· “Reparations,” Czartist Studio, Atlanta, GA

Selected Awards & Honors

2009

· Purchase Prize, “Masterful Mix” Art Auction, Hammonds House Museum & Resource Center for African American Art, Inc., Atlanta, GA

2008

· 20th Annual National Black Arts Festival Anniversary Featured Artist, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA

2007

· 14th Annual African American Art Exhibition, Galt House Hotel, Louisville, KY (Juried, 1st prize and Merit Award)

Selected Collections

· Anna Marie Horsford

· Ambassador Andrew Young

· Ed Gordon

· Elzy and Evern Epps

· The Frank Ski Foundation

· Fulton County Arts Council

· Mayor Shirley Franklin

· Nathan McCall

· Richard Pennington, Atlanta Chief of Police

· Vanderbilt University (Department of African American Studies in the Diaspora)

· Verizon Wireless

Selected Lectures

2009

· 3rd Annual Art for Fall Soiree, Columbus Ohio