ALLEN T. STRINGFELLOW

Allen T. Stringfellow (1923 – 2004) was an artist in Champaign, Illinois in 1923. His formative years were spent with his grandmother in Champaign. Here he primarily grew up in Church, and would find inspiration from the countless open-air baptisms and picnics on the bank of Champaign's Crystal Lake. Stringfellow moved with his parents who lived in Chicago, a city buzzing with jazz and nightlife. His father was a jazz musician himself, who owned a jazz club called Club De Lisa. Stringfellow designed clothing for some of the musicians and worked for a millinery shop as a young adult to make money. This dual experience would sometimes come in conflict with his Christian upbringing, evident in the different subject matter of his work.

He enrolled in art classes at the University of Illinois in Champaign, and finished his training at the Art Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After graduating, Stringfellow moved to Chicago where he taught print techniques at the South Side Community Arts Center as part of the National Youth Administration program. In 1941, he was the first black printing instructor in Chicago. In 1957, Stringfellow presented his work for the "No Jury Exhibition" for Chicago Artists, a showcase sponsored by the Art Institute and Chicago Art Organizations. By 1960, Stringfellow owned an original art gallery in Chicago's Old Town community. Stringfellow’s niece considers this endeavor to be Chicago’s first black-owned gallery. Inspired by the late William S. Carter, Stringfellow referred to him as his best friend and motivator.

Primarily known as a prolific collage artist, Stringfellow realized that the essence of the African American community could not be fully captured in one medium; like the layers of his art, the everyday life of a black individual is complex.
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As his career progressed, celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Whitney Houston began to purchase his works, along with other private collectors such as the The Honorable Percy E. Sutton, Dr. Walter Evans, Les Payne, and The Max Robinson Collection.
Stringfellow has been the recipient of numerous awards. His works have been shown in many galleries, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Historical Society and DuSable Museum of African American History. His pieces have been featured in The Art institute of Chicago, The Museum of Science and Industry, DuSable Museum of African American History, and The Schaumburg Research Center for Research in Black Culture. ​

Stringfellow's favorite color was red. He simply decided to always wear red, a color that is vibrantly accented in a wide variety of his artwork. His work continues to live on throughout Chicago culture, never failing to spread the feeling of joy.

From Krannert Art Museum | From The HistoryMakers
From https://niastringfellow.wixsite.com/allenstringfellow/biography