Richard J. Powell was born in Chicago, and earned his B.A. in Art from Morehouse College in 1975, followed by an M.F.A. in Printmaking from Howard University in 1977. While at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he developed an interest in art criticism and curation. In 1979, as a guest curator for the Studio Museum in Harlem, he organized one of the first surveys of African American printmakers. He studied at Yale University from 1980 to 1988, earning an M.A. in African American Studies, an M.Phil., and a Ph.D. in the History of Art. Since 1989, he has taught Art & Art History at Duke University and has become a prominent figure in African American art, recognized for his curatorial work and publications throughout his 35-year career.
In this excerpt, Powell places the Printshop in the context of the printmaking boom of the 1960s and 1970s, which saw the development of several professional printmaking studios. Robert Blackburn’s printshop was notable for its spirit of experimentation, community, and intergenerational exchange. He also shares how his relationship with Blackburn shaped his journey from being an artist to becoming a curator and historian.
