Born in Sawyerville, Alabama, Floyd Coleman earned a BA Degree in 1960 from Alabama State University where he studied with Hayward Oubre. In 1962 he earned an MS from the University of Wisconsin, and in 1975 a PhD from the University of Georgia. From 1965 to 1971, he was Associate Professor of Art at Clark College in Atlanta Georgia, from 1976-80, at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, 1983 -87 at Jackson State University and from 1987 at Howard University in Washington D.C.