"Roots" by Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks
24 x 36 inches acrylic painting on canvas -- unframed
A native Washingtonian, Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks has been working as an artist for well over thirty years. She is very passionate and determined to make a difference in the world of art. As a mixed media artist her accomplishments are notable. She is a painter, contemporary quiltmaker and doll designer.
During, her artistic career Gwendolyn has been involved in more than eighty exhibitions, these include both solo and group shows. 2023, her work has been acquired by Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. Her awards and grants include, but are not limited to the following: Maryland State arts Council's 2002 Individual Artist Award; National Association of Women Artists; National Museum of African Art (Washington, DC); Art in Embassies Program; The Arts Club of Washington, D.C.; The Pen and Palette and Pen Award from the Arts and Letters Commission Prince George's County Alumnae Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Aqui-Brooks' Art Works has been featured on Washington, D.C. Television Channel 22's "Art Works"; Her Quilt, "Spirit Woman", was featured in the book, "Treads of Faith". She has also received a full fellowship to Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont, to matriculate in fine arts.
Gwendolyn received a BFA in Art Education from Howard University and a MA in Education/Counseling from Trinity College. She has been an arts educator both in the United States and Africa, owner/director of an art gallery, art therapist and a consultant. Over the years traveling has influenced her work, especially her trips to Africa, Trinidad, Tobago and Brazil. Her work may best be described as Afro-Caribbean.
Note: BLACK ART IN AMERICA™ Presented: Royal Vanguard™ Artists of Distinction: The Black Art In America™ Royal Vanguard Artists of Distinction Program honors living artists whose careers and artworks meet the highest standard of excellence and blaze a trail for contemporary artists to follow. Louis Delsarte, Mason Archie and Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks are three of our artists of distinction that we recognized during the 25th anniversary celebration of the National Black Arts Festival, July 18-20th, 2013, Atlanta, Georgia.
