1930-present
Works in the Collection
Biography
Faith Ringgold was born in Harlem, New York, New York in 1930. As she grew up, she was immersed in the cultural contributions of the Harlem Renaissance. She received her B.A. in Fine Arts and Education in 1955 and her Master’s degree from the City College of New York. Shortly after remarrying to Burdette Ringgold, Faith began her painting career in the late 1950s. As time went on, her art expanded to sculpture, quilt, performance art, illustration, and writing. Ms. Ringgold was extremely accomplished in her career, receiving over 75 awards, including numerous grants and fellowships. A few of her awards include: the National Endowment For the Arts Award for sculpture (1978) and for painting (1989); The La Napoule Foundation Award for painting in France (1990); The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship for painting (1987); The New York Foundation For the Arts Award for painting (1988); The American Association of University Women for travel to Africa (1976); The Creative Artists Public Service Award for painting (1971).
Ringgold also holds the position of professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego where she taught art from 1987 until 2002. Ringgold has written and illustrated 11 children’s books, including her first, “Tar Beach”, which was a Caldecott Honor Book and received the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration. Faith Ringgold lives in Englewood, New Jersey, where she continues to work in art and academia.