The Artist is Having a Good Day, by King Nobuyoshi Godwin
Click here to view King's website.
Artist Statement:
King expresses his feelings about the important things in life and love in his paintings. He believes in his work and each creation is precious to him. Colors and numbers are friends with their own special meanings. To King, 4,500 is the happiest number, but 07 is sad, while 77 is a good day! He smiles when he paints and pours his feelings into each canvas.
King thinks being autistic is pretty lucky because it gives him the capability to see beautiful trees and talk to them. Every piece purchased supports his ability to live independently. King’s career as a professional artist is not only inspiring, it serves as proof that life with a disability can be productive and meaningful.
Meet the Artist
King was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, to a Japanese mother and an African American father. He was diagnosed with autism at a very early age. His severe autism took away his opportunity to take part in conversation with his peers and live an ordinary life, but it also gave him the artistic expression that uniquely combine with his synesthetic expression. Against all odds, today, at the age of 29, King is a positive person and loves to draw animals and nature with bright colors. Small numbers dance on his canvases, which express his inner feelings, and has built a bridge between him and his viewers because they can relate and feel what King is expressing even without language.
King’s pride in his job as an artist is inspiring; moreover, the unforgettable images capture the viewer and lift their hopes in so many ways. His artwork has a powerful and uniquely influential statement.
-Yuko N Taylor, mother of King
Why does the Foundation have an art gallery?
Because we believe that a strong commitment to the arts is an important part of our vision for the community.
As part of our focus on cultural arts, the Foundation's office space also serves as a rotating art gallery, for two main reasons: to support and foster local artists, and to encourage our community to connect and engage in meaningful conversation inspired by art. The Triangle Community Artists Gallery, housed within our office space at the Frontier in partnership with the Durham Art Guild (DAG), hosts artwork from local artists for periods of six months at a time. All artists in the gallery are chosen by a jury panel of fundholders and donors with an interest in the arts. The art on display, unless marked, is available for purchase. We are proud of this partnership with DAG, our jury of community leaders and arts-minded fundholders, and the artists we have the great pleasure of showcasing each cycle.
Due to COVID-19, we are offering a virtual art gallery only at this time.
Interested in learning how to turn your office into a curated art gallery?
Learn more about the DAG Art@Work program, and see how they can help you get started today!
Interested in getting your art displayed in our gallery?
Calls for art are for this exhibit are usually published in June. So keep an eye on Durham Art Guild and Triangle Community Foundation’s websites around that time!