Mississippi native Phillip R. Dotson has been creating works of art that are alive with a colorful and lyrical energy for more than fifty years. His paintings, which have been exhibited in museums across the country and published widely, reveal an eclectic mix of influences ranging from African sculpture to European surrealism. Additionally, much of his work is informed by experiences growing up amidst the sights, sounds, and symbols of the American South. Dotson has described his work as “looking to the future, guided by the past.”

Since 1972, Dotson has guided the art program at LeMoyne-Owen College, teaching nearly every aspect of art-making to generations of students, along with educating them on the rich history of African American art. His constant exposure to young adults has lent a certain optimism to his work, amplified by his use of rich colors and bold contours. Phillip R. Dotson is a retrospective examination of Dotson’s remarkable career, showcasing his early, brooding surrealist compositions to his brilliant more recent paintings.

Phillip R. Dotson, American, b. 1948, Untitled Surrealist Landscape, 1971; Oil on canvas; 24 x 30 inches; Courtesy of the artist