Rob Redding, a Atlantan living in New York, is a constructivist expressionistic (ConEx) abstract artist with more than 25 years of painting experience and a growing international profile. From an unlikely start, selling professionally in the abstract art world at the age of 12, he has shown and sold his trademark Smear paintings from Brussels Belgium to the bayou's of Louisiana. The son of an Baptist minister and a school teacher, Redding began drawing at seven and his professional art career doing imitations of Jackson Pollock at age 12. He credits his older sister Keena Hunt with taking him to see art at Little 5 Points in Atlanta, an artistically rich community; his mother, who had a great deal of artistic talent, and his third grade art teacher, who encouraged him. "I recall showing and selling my art work at the Fayette County (GA) Old Courthouse Art Show when I was a child," he said. "Like many who struggle toward any type of achievement, success in life is not about one big break but a series of small ones." A little more than a decade later, in 2000, he branched into his own artistic style of "Smear Painting" - a vexing mix of colors and psychedelic works. "I went back to a place that I found myself in when I was a child in my garage studio. I recalled that I created a red, white and yellow painting that I thought was worth re-exploring," he said. He started establishing Smear painting with the "Black Series" in 2003. There were seven 30" x 40" inch works of one primary color engulfed by a black vortexes. The next year he pushed the values of Neoplasticism with a signature work and other supporting works. During the same time he created a "Fractured" series of paintings, taking Pollock's style and adding Smeared backgrounds and interrupted lines. These works would gain the attention of the Washington, D.C. art community, where he was living at the time. "It is always an event anytime Rob Redding's smear paintings are featured," wrote John Blee, a respected critic and artist. Blee's review came after Redding landed among the top 10 on respected art collector Philip Barlow's "Pick List." His is works have also been included in the independent film "Art House." After a five year break, just after Redding went back to school to finish his degree in 2009, he began Smearing on aluminum foil. These works were exhibited in shows in Monroe Louisiana, where they were created, and in a four story, more than 30 painting solo show in Atlanta's Castleberry Hill community in 2011. In June 2013, Redding made a major leap when he moved to Brussels Belgium where he picked up residency at Discover Contemporary Art in the city's artistic hub. He established a constructivist expressionistic (ConEx) style while traveling through Saint-Gilles in Brussels. This is where expressionism meets constructivism. The style blends his smeared style with reductive geometric methods. Inspired by a splash of Pollock, the smears of Richter, the constructivism of Mondrian and the tangents of Twombly his new style debuted in color as "Deconstruction" paintings alongside Ben Heine at Discover Contemporary Art in January 2014. He later refers to the paintings displayed during this time as his first ConEx paintings. In February 2014, he moved back to America and obtained his Master in Arts from Marshall in Huntington West Virginia in December 2015. While in Huntington, he began working on a ConEx Black on White series in January 2016. BBC SHOW In the fall of 2018, he held his controversial "BIG BLACK ̶C̶O̶C̶K̶ CANVAS: SIZE matters – in ART!" show at NoHo M55 Gallery. Redding said "themes of size as it relates to race are so important in the LGBTQ+ and straight communities, just as size and the debate around blackness - in use of color and participation by people of color - are important in the artistic community. This show unapologetically tackles those themes." NYC art critic Per Larson, who in the past has compared the work to James Baldwin and called the art "iconic", agreed saying viewers of his "BIG BLACK ̶C̶O̶C̶K̶ CANVAS: SIZE matters – in ART!" show will be overwhelmed with "technical wizardry to grab his interest, and meander around within the square without time, and without a mind to get in the way. Viewing at last with his gut."... "It's pure Warhol and Maplethorp." Art Slant wrote that Redding's BBC show "uses paintings 'Up/Circle Jerk', 'fissure' and 'cock' to spur needed dialog about the familiar black male trope." Black Star News wrote of the BBC show: "Constructivist Expressionist painter Redding breaths new life into geometric shape with radical reductive smearing of thrown pain. Redding’s art." What's more, New York Art Beat also covered the BBC show and in 2017 noted his "trademark" style. Out Magazine covered his first juried art show in NYC, which showcased "Circle Jerk" in NYC. "Circle Jerk" has appeared in Art News, AM New York, Chelsea Now, Express and Gay City newspapers. BEYOND ART Redding talent does not begin and end with art. He is also a professor, author, journalist and nationally syndicated radio host. He has taught at universities in New York City. He has been featured in the New York Times; featured in Upscale magazine; appeared on the cover of Consciousness magazine; won an ADDY award; named one of "The 100 Most Important Radio Talk Hosts in America" by Talkers magazine; profiled as an "Industry Leader" in radio by Allaccess.com; and has received a proclamation from the Atlanta City Council for his work. His award-winning Web site, ReddingNewsReview.com, is a leading source for black news on the Internet. He has won an award from the Associated Press and three consecutive Black Web Awards. EDUCATION Pratt Institute - Student 2022 Master of Fine Arts New York, NY. Marshall University Master of Arts Huntington, WV. University of Louisiana Bachelor of Arts Monroe, La. SOLO EXHIBITIONS April 1 to April 20, 2019 "BIG & BLACK in BKLYN" Phils, New York, N.Y. Sept. 4, 2018 to Sept. 22, 2018 "BIG BLACK ̶C̶O̶C̶K̶ CANVAS: SIZE matters – in ART!" NoHo M55 Gallery, New York, N.Y. Sept. 16, 2017 to Oct. 20, 2017 "Monodramatic" Midoma Gallery, New York, N.Y. Oct. 11, 2016 to Feb. 1, 2017 "Black on White" Silver Spurs, New York, N.Y. Nov 5, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2017 "Black on White" Producers' Club Theaters & Bar, New York, N.Y. Nov. 15, 2016 to Nov. 21, 2016 "Black on White" Ouchi Gallery, Brooklyn, N.Y. Oct. 10, 2016 to Oct. 24, 2016 "Black on White" Cones, New York, N.Y. March 11, 2011 "2nd Friday ArtStroll at Castleberry Hill in Atlanta" The Ice Cream Loft located on 322 Peter Street No. 2. Atlanta, Ga. Feb. 1, 2006 - Feb. 26, 2006 "Smeared" Warehouse, Washington, D.C. Jan. 25, 2005 - Feb. 28, 2005 The "Black Show" Skewers, Washington, D.C. August 2004 The "Black Show" The Apex, Atlanta, Ga. February 2004 The "Black Show" Brenau University, Atlanta, Ga. May - June 1990 Fayette County Library Fayette County, Ga. February - March 1989 Fayette County Junior High School Library Fayette County, Ga. GROUP EXHIBITIONS Oct 18 - 20, 2019 ”Project XAM Rise : NYC (Rising and shinning stars of the queer visual art world)" Hell’s Kitchen, New York, N.Y. June 27, 2019 "OUTlines" One Art Space, New York, N.Y. March 13 to March 15, 2019 "Collage show" Con Artist, New York, N.Y. Feb. 22, 2019 to Feb. 24, 2019 "Postcards from the edge" Bortolami Gallery, New York, N.Y. Dec. 18, 2018 to Jan. 5, 2019 "Members’ Exhibition" NoHo M55 Gallery, New York, N.Y. Aug. 31, 2018 "Black Art Matters" 17 Frost Gallery, Brooklyn, N.Y. July 31, 2018 to Aug. 11, 2018 "Rise" NoHo M55 Gallery, New York, N.Y. Oct. 19, 2017 to Oct. 20, 2017 "Juried Group Show - Different Expectations" SoHo, N.Y. Aug. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2017 "Group Show" Savoy, Brooklyn, N.Y. June 27, 2017 to July 29, 2017 "Artist -Run" NoHo M55 Gallery, New York, N.Y. Sept. 2, 2016 to Sept. 11, 2016 "Group Show" Ouchi Gallery, Brooklyn, N.Y. March 1, 2014 to March 22, 2014 "Group Show" Discover Contemporary Art, Brussels, Belgium February 10, 2011 "Gallery Crawl" UPSTAIRS and Big Room, Monroe, La. July 24, 2008 - July 20, 2008 "Heaven and Hell" The Gallery, Melbourne, Fla. July 6, 2008 - July 20, 2008 "White show" Imago Fine Art & Fine Wine, Melbourne, Fla. June 6, 2008 - July 5, 2008 "Dream" Imago Fine Art & Fine Wine, Melbourne, Fla. July 28, 2007 - Sept. 1, 2007 "Summer of Love" Imago Fine Art & Fine Wine, Melbourne, Fla. Sept. 29, 2006 - Oct. 30, 2006 "Fall Harvest Exhibition" Gallery 5/Eastern Market, Washington, D.C. Sept. 8, 2005 - Oct. 2, 2005 "Where is the peace?" Warehouse, Washington, D.C. Nov. 12, 2004 - Dec. 05, 2004 Artomatic 2004 Washington, D.C. Awarded Seventh Place on collector Philip Barlow's "Pick List" May 21, 2004 - June 15, 2004 Art Romp 16 Warehouse, Washington, D.C. February 2000 Consignment Gallery 2000, Washington, D.C. Jan. 12, 1990 "One Night Stand" New Visions Gallery Atlanta, Ga. March 1989 - 1991 Participant in the Old Court House Art Show Fayetteville, Ga. Oct. 29 - 30 1988 Art in the park Little Five Points, Atlanta, Ga. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE November 2018 to present - Lead Curator, Sepela-Harlem Global Festival, Dusseldorf Germany. May 2019 to September 2019. Visual Aids. Public Relations Manager. Worked to identify, design strategies, promote the organization, distribute press kits and handle crisis situations. June 27 2019 - Co-Curator “OUTlines” - One Art Space, NY. May 2019 to June 2019 - Lead Curator, Phils, Brooklyn NY. GALLERY COLLECTIONS 2005 "Untitled Orange and Black" Warehouse, Washington, D.C. Acrylic on canvas 15' X 15' PUBLIC ART 2014 "Untitled" Terhulpsesteenweg 268 Chaussée de la Hulpe Bruxelles 1170 Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium Acrylic on canvas - Two 40' x 40' 1994 "Hollows Eve" Sandy Creek High School Tyrone, Ga. Acrylic on canvas 30' X 40' BIBLIOGRAPHY AM New York. "Advert," November, 2017. Art Cards. "Rob Redding "BIG BLACK C*?k CANVAS: SIZE matters". Retrieved from http://artcards.cc/newyork/show/75618-BIG-BLACK-Ck-CANVAS-SIZE-matters-Noho-M55-Gallery Art in America. 2017 Guide: Museums, Galleries, Artists. p 161. August 2017. Retrieved from http://www.reddingnewsreview.com/smearsite/Articles/ArtinAmeria.pdf Art News. "Advert." September 2017. Art Slant. BBC- SIZE matters - in ART! - exhibitions & events | ArtSlant. September 2018. Retrieved from https://www.artslant.com/ny/events/show/476277-bbc--size-matters---in-art?tab=EVENT Black Star News. "BIG BLACK ̶C̶O̶C̶K̶ CANVAS: SIZE matters – in ART!" August 14, 2018. Retrieved from http://www.blackstarnews.com/entertainment/others/exhibition-big-black-̶c̶o̶c̶k̶-canvas-size-matters-in-art.html Blee, John. The Georgetowner, "Review," October, 2006. Retrieved from http://www.reddingnewsreview.com/smearsite/Articles/Georgtowner.pdf Blouin Art Info. “RISE 2018!” at Noho M55 Gallery", July, 27, 2018. Retrieved from http://reddingnewsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/shot-20180809-11616-15swst4.jpeg Chelsea Now. "Advert," November, 2017. Downtown Alliance. “OUTLINES, ART SHOW AIMS TO TARGET COMMODIFICATION OF QUEERNESS” Retrieved from https://www.downtownny.com/events/outlines-art-show-aims-to-target-commodification-of-queerness Express. "Advert," November, 2017. Gay City. "Advert," November, 2017. Larson, Per. "Found: One artist who lives art".," July 23, 2017. Retrieved from https://peronart.com/2017/07/22/found-one-artist-who-lives-art/ NY Art Beat. “‘OUTlines’ Exhibition” June 27, 2019. Retrieved from http://www.nyartbeat.com/event/2019/2D23 NY Art Beat. “BBC: SIZE matters - in ART!” September 6, 2018. Retrieved from http://www.nyartbeat.com/event/2018/9329 NY Art Beat. “Artist Run” June 29, 2017, Retrieved from http://www.nyartbeat.com/event/2017/CF79 Redding, Rob. "Rise 2018", (exhibition catalogue and introduction). 2018. Yost, Leon. "Artist - Run: Invitational Summer 2017," (exhibition catalogue). 2017.