Arshaad Norwood, Black Madonna, acrylic painting, 2016
Arshaad’s conviction is to create visceral art that emanates the beauty of humanity and the ephemeral blight of life in order to educate & empower the next generation of artists & teachers in the Greater Atlanta community. The premise behind his captivating reinterpretation of Michaelengelo’s masterpiece “Pieta” was to capture the simultaneity of countless court cases after the death of Trayvon Martin, foreshadow the spiritual connection between Mother & Child & highlight the visual tension between police & blacklivesmatter movement.
Arshaad Norwood is a multitalented visual artist, muralist, educator from Atlanta, Georgia with over 15 years of professional experience in the areas of fine art & graphic design. Arshaad earned his Bachelors of Art & Design from Lagrange College in 2005. Post college, he excelled as a graduate assistant for Lamar Dodd Art Center and as a studio apprentice for Signe Grushovenko in the Artist & Residence program before working professionally as a graphic artist for the unprecedented Benjamin Studios in Atlanta, Ga.
During President Obama’s inaugural year, Arshaad painted his 1st mural at Atlanta’s Original Uptown Comedy Corner and was awarded first place honors at Arts Clayton Gallery for his iconic painting of the First Family, “The Triumph.” Soon after, Arshaad completed his Masters in Secondary Education & started his art educator career with Clayton County Public Schools in Jonesboro, GA serving underprivileged and at-risk youth. He then went on to teach art at Riverdale High School while simultaneously relaunching his art business ArtbyArshaad LLC.
In 2017, Arshaad collaborated with National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) on launching the NEXTGEN Art Showcase located at Benjamin E. Mays High School where he currently serves as Lead Art teacher, Program Director for Raider Nation Mural Renovation and ArtsAtl Luminary Award Nominee for Art Education. In 2019 Arshaad helped Fabian Williams paint 7 Kaepernick Murals during ATL Super Bowl and was selected to be a featured artist at the Phi Beta Sigma Conclave in Las Vegas, Nevada which led to him becoming the official Live Artist for Zeta Phi Beta’s Centennial Celebration in D.C last month.
Arshaad’s conviction is to create visceral art that emanates the beauty of humanity and the ephemeral blight that through life in order to educate & empower the next generation of artists & teachers in the Greater Atlanta community.
