About the artist:

Charles McGill is an artist who has been working professionally for over 20 years. Born in Binghamton, NY, he began his training at Keystone Junior College in La Plume, PA, where he earned an Associates of Fine Arts and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1984. Two years later, he received a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In 1987, he attended the prestigious Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Skowhegan, Maine. After earning a Masters of Fine Art in 1989 from The Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, where he was a Ford Foundation Fellow, he went on to work in the admissions office as an admissions counselor and recruiter for the school. It was at MICA that he began teaching drawing and painting in the foundation department in addition to working with area high school students over the summer months in intensive drawing workshops. After relocating to New York he was recruited by The School of Visual Arts to work in the admissions office where he advised prospective students, visited area and national high school art department, and attended national portfolio days. He also taught painting and drawing in addition to running and designing the curriculum for the summer Portfolio Preparation courses to advanced area high school students. In 1994 he wrote an essay entitled, "The Wizard of Oz: A Journey of Practical Spirituality." A course description followed along with a syllabus and shortly thereafter he taught the class at The New School for Social Research. Writing has always been an important part of Mr. McGill's creative development. He sees his writing much the same way he views the art he makes--it's all part of the creative process which always leads somewhere positive. Mr. McGill has served as visiting artist to many institutions including New York University, City College of New York, Virginia Tech University, Purchase College and the Wadsworth Museum in Hartford, CT, Queens College, Alfred University and Parsons School of Art and Design in NYC among others. His professional exhibition record includes solo and group shows at several galleries and museums, including the "The Painted Portrait" Group Exhibition at Barnarducci-Meisel Gallery in NYC, The 2008 Westchester Biennial, "For the Love of the Game: Race and Sport in African-American Art" Group exhibition The Wadsworth Museum, "Art and Architecture Group" Exhibition Albright Knox Museum and Club Negro: Solo Show at The Barbara Ann Levy Gallery in NYC. In addition he is a 2007 Art Matters Grant recipient for International Creative Exchange and in the summer of 2008 will travel to Vietnam for the second time to perform the photo-documentation of his piece Arthur Negro – From Harlem to Hanoi. As an illustrator, Mr. McGill's work can be found in the 2005 book called The Six-Spoke Approach to Better Golf, by PGA Golf Teaching Professional Tom Patri. He contributed 30 pencil drawings to the project and shares credit on the project with such esteemed names as PGA Tour professional Fred Couples and NBC Sports Commentator Jimmy Roberts. His work has been reviewed and featured in several publications including the New York Times, The African-American Review of Fine Arts, Art in America and HZ-Journal. Many of these reviews can be found on-line. In 2005 the owner of The Bridge Country Club in Bridgehampton, NY commissioned one of Mr. McGill's most controversial pieces. Arthur Negro - Head of The Former Black Militant Golf and Country Club, a life-sized likeness of the artist, is displayed for members and visitors alike in The Bridge Pro-Shop. After spending several years working in his studio on his current body of work, he itched to get back to some form of higher education. He was fortunate enough to come across the listing for the position at Manhattanville College Art Gallery. He was hired and has spent much of his time and efforts bringing his experience and knowledge to the position of gallery director. Working in conjunction with the studio art department faculty, he foresees a very abundant future for the new Manhattanville College Art Gallery. His first major contribution to the gallery exhibition schedule will be serve as Co-curator with art faculty member Alka Mukerji on the works of 20th Century Master Alberto Giacometti as seen through the camera lens of famed American photographer Herbert Matter. This is a major addition to the Manhattanville community. Keep you eyes peeled for more exciting and unique exhibitions in the future. In 2009, The New York Foundation for the Arts Awarded Mr. McGill a grant.