About Jonathan Green

The second of seven children, artist Jonathan Green was born in 1955 in Gardens Corner, South Carolina. Raised in the black "Gullah" culture of the coastal Southeast, he grew up speaking the region's dialect--English mixed with grammar elements from several African languages.

Green's works, noted for their masterful use of color and exquisite portrayal of the human figure, evoke the semitropical atmosphere and gentle daily rhythms of his agrarian home. Raised in a supportive home and community and taught to respect the daily challenges of work, love, and belonging, Green's goal is to preserve and share with viewers the flavor of this pointed and lovely struggle.

Jonathan Green received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1982. His work is the subject of a book entitled Gullah Images: The Art of Jonathan Green (University of South Carolina Press, 1996). It has been included in such renowned national art publications such as American Visions and the artist has illustrated numerous books and articles on topics ranging from fine arts to children's literature.

Jonathan Green's work is included in the permanent museum collections of the Greenville County Museum of Art (Greenville, South Carolina), the Morris Museum of Art (Augusta, Georgia), and The Norton Gallery Museum (West Palm Beach, Florida), among others. The recipient of numerous honors and awards, Green has been listed in the Who's Who in American Art from 1995 to 1998.