Arts & Culture

UK Artist's Work Makes 'Top 10 Most Memorable' List

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 15, 2015) —  A piece of art by Ebony G. Patterson, an associate professor in painting at the University of Kentucky School of Art and Visual Studies, was named to "David Ebony's Top 10 Most Memorable Artworks of 2014." The managing editor of Art in America praised Patterson's "…wata marassa-beyond the bladez," currently on display as part of "Prospect.3" in New Orleans.

In the article, Ebony called Patterson "one of the bright new stars showcased in 'Prospect.3.'" The composition selected by Ebony is a mixed media work combining painting and assemblage. The piece is part of a series of works that explores ideas around visibility/invisibility, beauty, violence and access.

"Prospect" New Orleans was conceived in the tradition of the great international exhibitions to showcase new artistic practices from around the world and contribute to the cultural economy of New Orleans. The idea to mount a large-scale international art biennial came to Dan Cameron during his first post-Katrina visit to New Orleans. With the potential opportunities, Cameron decided it was the ideal place and time to launch such a venture, and in 2007, with seed money from philanthropist Toby Devan Lewis, Prospect New Orleans came to fruition. 

Prior to being selected for "P.3" last fall, Patterson has been included in notable group exhibitions at Brooklyn Museum, Bass Museum, National Gallery of Jamaica and Studio Museum in Harlem. Her show credits include "Gold" (Miami , Florida); The "Jamaica Biennial" ; "Aruba Biennial"; "Caribbean Crossroads" (New York, Florida); "Black Gossamer," at Glass Curtain Gallery, at Columbia College (Chicago); "...until you see them," at Monique Meloche Gallery; and her first national museum show "dy/nas/ty," at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art in spring 2014. Patterson will participate in several select shows at notable venues in 2015, including exhibitions at John Michael Kholer Art Center (Sheboygan, Wisconsin), Havana Biennale (Cuba), Seattle Art Museum and the Contemporary Art Center (New Orleans).

Outside of the gallery, Patterson's work has also been published in numerous publications such as The New York Times, Frieze Magazine, Huffington Post, Art Nexus, Art Papers and the International Review of African-American Art. 

A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Patterson earned her bachelor's degree in painting at the Edna Manley College for Visual and Performing Arts and a master's degree in printmaking and drawing from the Sam Fox College of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. In 2013, she was named to Huffington Post's "Top 30 Black Artists Under 40." That same year, Patterson was the first visual artist to be awarded the Rex Nettleford Fellowship in Cultural Studies, which is presented to a Caribbean resident under the age of 35 who has shown excellence in that field. In 2014, Patterson was awarded the the Aaron Matalon Award for the best submission in the 2014 Jamaica Biennal.

Patterson has been teaching painting and mixed media at UK since 2007. To see more of Patterson’s artwork, or to learn more about her, visit her website at ebonygpatterson.com.

The UK School of Art and Visual Studies in the UK College of Fine Arts is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of art studioart history and visual studies, and art education.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu