Awarded one of the top 20 figurative painters by Watson-Guptill Publications, this self taught artist’s career spans over 5 decades of accomplishments. His brilliant combination of technical mastery and emotional power embraces and unveils people of all ages, races and cultures. Collin’s captures their truth and raw reality, sharing with us the beauty and traditions that are the legacy of humanity and gently unites us through knowledge.
His craft started as a young child when his talent began to emerge. His class mates requested sketches and his history teacher encouraged him to draw the lessons on the chalkboard. But life was challenging. He experienced the harsh reality of racism at a young age when he moved from his all black neighborhood to a small predominately white community. Those informative years of seeing and experiencing the inequalities and prejudices of the world helped to shape him. Today it is part of his daily ritual to rant about the injustices among us- but he is not complacent- everyday he strives to better the world either through large endeavors, one person at a time, or quietly through his art that hangs throughout the world.
Collin’s embarked on forays in and beyond his home borders to several far corners of the globe, where his engaging qualities and quest to unite one another helped open the doors to the cultures he portrays. His first major sojourn was to Senegal, on the West Coast of Africa, where he created over 30 paintings that propelled him into international light. Whether his work is focusing on the heroes of the United States, the people of Japan, Dakar, Jerusalem, Wounded Knee or Key West the lines that present their expressions project the defining quality of dignity that comes from being human. His work has created a movement of truth, giving people the chance to experience the unique beauty of one another enlightened in a positive and freeing way.
A steady climb to international recognition has been punctuated by exhibits and hangings in some of the most prestigious museums and galleries on the planet. Collin’s has exhibited nationally and internationally, credited with over 100 exhibitions, with several breaking attendance records. His works have been viewed from the Pushkin Museum in Moscow to the Kennedy Center in Washington DC to the Key West Museum of Art & History in Key West and the Studio Museum of Harlem in New York.
Throughout his prolific career he completed the following commissioned collections of works including, “Black Portrait of an African Journey”- Senegal & Gambia, “Other Voices: A Native American Tableau”- Pine Ridge & Rose Bud Reservation, “Children of Harlem”- Harlem New York, “Special Olympics” United States, “Great Beautiful Black Women”- United States, “Famous Moments in the History of the United States of America”, “America at Work”, “Voices of Israel”, “Kenya: In the Beginning”, “American Portrait of Japan”, “Who is Key West?”, “Embargo of the Angels”- Cuba, “Portraits of Promise”- the world.