Artist Story: Preston Jackson

I came to Chicago 15 years ago to teach at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I am still employed as a professor of sculpture. I have experienced many rejections and disappointments in the art world here in Chicago. No matter the subject of my work, it has always been difficult for me to be accepted by mainstream artists, galleries and museums. I have always been told to seek representation by African American galleries and institutions despite the fact that my work is strong and deals with wide-ranging issues relevant to all members of human society. Nevertheless, I have been relegated to the sphere of "black artists" as opposed to "fine artists". This situation continues to exist today for a majority of African American artists.

When art is denied broad exposure, observers lose the unique insights into various segments of our society that could be revealed if we were all given the opportunity for honest, accurate, expression. Even though the concerns and issues addressed by women and "minority" artists may be identical to those of well known Europeans and other "inside" artists, their work has been perceived only as stemming from a narrow perspective. The concept is that African Americans, Latinos, gays, women, and other groups cannot properly speak of universal truths, but rather only of their own concerns. Minority artists are perceived as only having valuable contributions within the bounds of their group, as if our experiences are not valid to humanity as a whole. It is imperative that artists of all ethnic groups be equally allowed acceptance into the community of museums, galleries and fellow artists. Accordingly, I have found it necessary to reject the closed, cliquish "old boys club" which I once fought to be a part of because I thought that would be the key to success.

I believe there has been a dramatic change in the art scene in Chicago-African Americans in particular have now taken charge of their own destinies by establishing their own galleries and building their own audiences, both black and white. I, myself, have purchased property in Chicago which I use as an exhibition space for my own work, and downstate in Peoria I have established an art center that supports female and male artists of all backgrounds and nationalities. I am now engaged in executing numerous commissions that have also brought attention to my personal work.

My emphasis remains the content of my work and the responses it evokes, along with my great love for teaching sculpture to a diverse group of students at SAIC from whom I continue to learn a great deal. I have become successful by perseverance and resilience, and by maintaining my belief in an all-inclusive attitude and respect for all cultures.

Preston Jackson was chosen as the 1998 Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, the highest honor given to individuals in the State. A professor of sculpture at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Jackson is the head of the figurative area and has served as chair of the Sculpture Department. His work addresses such issues as protests against war, racism, sexism, violence and injustice. He is most famous for his bronze figurative work and monumental steel sculpture.