CLEASTER COTTON
African American Indigenous American Viaual & Literary Artist
African American Indigenous American Viaual & Literary Artist
Cleaster was born into a large, close-knit family and lovingly raised by southern parents in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Her approach to art-making is honest, unexpected, and exciting - with a refreshing use of texture, line, color, and tone. Cleaster's ability to manipulate conventional and unconventional materials produces an eclectic, fascinating range of artistic renderings.
Cleaster is a Cultural Conservationist. She has travelled, extensively, since adolescence... learning the land, nature of the people, cultures, food, and art. Her journeys include the United States, Kemet (Africa,) Europe, Central America, the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico.
Visit
http://cleastercotton.com
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"Innovative learning brings boundless possibilities." ~ Cleaster Cotton (2005)
CLEASTER COTTON
Educator / Master Teaching Artist
Cleaster's style, as an educator of the arts and academics, is fun-based, innovative, interactive, and explorative.
“Effective education is a synergy between the teacher, the student, and the content. Storytelling and experiential learning is fun. It leads to innovation and invention. Content that is relatable to life experience is retained and lasting. When teachers have fun teaching, students have fun learning and assessment is simplified. " ~ Cleaster Cotton (2011)
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Reviews
"Asheville's Cleaster Cotton has a new gallery within the gallery of AnTHM Town Arts in downtown Black Mountain. This amazingly talented self-taught artist, I'd swear, was passed the baton of talent straight from the hand of Jean Dubuffet, founder of Art Brut, with her unique though similar painting style, use of color, rhythmic technique, powerful symbolism, and storytelling ability. From the Underground Railroad to her series of masked female images, Ms. Cotton's passion is contagious, compels you you to take a closer look, to shed a tear, to learn more about plight, then moves you to celebrate--freedom, its many layers, and the vibrancy of choice!"
Cappi Macsherry, Owner ~ AnTHM Galleries of Black Mountain
Black Mountain, NC, USA (2012)
Cappi Macsherry, Owner ~ AnTHM Galleries of Black Mountain
Black Mountain, NC, USA (2012)
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"In Cleaster Cotton's latest - mostly abstract artwork - curves lines and intensely saturated colors collide in explosive exuberance. Her joyful spirit shows throughout, almost as if she is beckoning you to, "Come along on this thrilling ride with me!" A collage (self-portrait?) made of different materials is sly, witty, and also infused with brilliant color. Her uncanny ability to be both primitive and sophisticated shines through all her work."
"In Cleaster Cotton's latest - mostly abstract artwork - curves lines and intensely saturated colors collide in explosive exuberance. Her joyful spirit shows throughout, almost as if she is beckoning you to, "Come along on this thrilling ride with me!" A collage (self-portrait?) made of different materials is sly, witty, and also infused with brilliant color. Her uncanny ability to be both primitive and sophisticated shines through all her work."
Bobbie Kaplan, Award-winning Advertising Executive
New York City USA (2011)
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"Contemporary Primitive; those are two words that make you think when you see them. I tell you they are the words that express the truly gifted and genius of Cleaster Cotton. She is fast becoming known in the art world and is a true Renaissance Woman. She is multi-talented, able to do many things extremely well. Her work has movement, soul, emotion, intensity and drama!! It has history, herstory and culture. It tells the story of our ancestors and they speak through her to tell us what we must do today to make ourselves whole again. Cleaster uses collage, mixed media and other forms of art to bring out her message. She is the female Romare Bearden!! I look at Bearden and the work he has done, the movement in his work, the feeling, the textures and collages. I see so many similarities between him and Cleaster, even the Harlem and North Carolina thing. Cleaster lived in Harlem also. We are all definitely from the same seed."
"Contemporary Primitive; those are two words that make you think when you see them. I tell you they are the words that express the truly gifted and genius of Cleaster Cotton. She is fast becoming known in the art world and is a true Renaissance Woman. She is multi-talented, able to do many things extremely well. Her work has movement, soul, emotion, intensity and drama!! It has history, herstory and culture. It tells the story of our ancestors and they speak through her to tell us what we must do today to make ourselves whole again. Cleaster uses collage, mixed media and other forms of art to bring out her message. She is the female Romare Bearden!! I look at Bearden and the work he has done, the movement in his work, the feeling, the textures and collages. I see so many similarities between him and Cleaster, even the Harlem and North Carolina thing. Cleaster lived in Harlem also. We are all definitely from the same seed."
Peggy Dodson, President and CEO
Urban Broadcasting Company
New York City, USA (2011)
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"Leave it to Cleaster Cotton, primitive modernist artist that she is, to make Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights glow with 10,000 watts of voltage. The neon blue dancing lines and bubbles are clearly celebrating this important Jewish holiday as it’s never been celebrated before: with utter joy and abandon. There is so much movement in this provocative piece, you’d swear you were seeing wheels and planes and even a leaping figurine at the top of the midnight sky. If ever a Hanukkah was happer-than-happy, this is it!"
"Leave it to Cleaster Cotton, primitive modernist artist that she is, to make Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights glow with 10,000 watts of voltage. The neon blue dancing lines and bubbles are clearly celebrating this important Jewish holiday as it’s never been celebrated before: with utter joy and abandon. There is so much movement in this provocative piece, you’d swear you were seeing wheels and planes and even a leaping figurine at the top of the midnight sky. If ever a Hanukkah was happer-than-happy, this is it!"
Bobbie Kaplan, Award-winning Advertising Executive
New York City USA (2011)
New York City USA (2011)
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" Cleaster Cotton is a dynamic and visionary artist."
" Cleaster Cotton is a dynamic and visionary artist."
Randy Shull and Hedy Fischer, Owners ~ Pink Dog Creative
Asheville, North Carolina USA (2011)
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“EXO-Political Contemporary Primitive Artist, Cleaster Cotton, creates art the way God created the universe. You must see her work. It involves signs and symbols that intrigue the mind. A must-see for all of us aliens... as well as those who think they are originally from this planet."
“EXO-Political Contemporary Primitive Artist, Cleaster Cotton, creates art the way God created the universe. You must see her work. It involves signs and symbols that intrigue the mind. A must-see for all of us aliens... as well as those who think they are originally from this planet."
Ray Mapp, President
Purpose Publishing
Asheville, North Carolina USA (2011)
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"Cleaster Cotton's art work is authentic, cultural, and thought-provoking. Cleaster is inspiring and is a role model to young artists, demonstrating to them that self-expression, through art, is a powerful key to freedom. She's dedicated, professional, and innovative in her approach to her work. Her use of materials (both conventional and unconventional) is refreshing and fascinating. I encourage Cleaster and look forward to the advancement and continued success of her career."
"Cleaster Cotton's art work is authentic, cultural, and thought-provoking. Cleaster is inspiring and is a role model to young artists, demonstrating to them that self-expression, through art, is a powerful key to freedom. She's dedicated, professional, and innovative in her approach to her work. Her use of materials (both conventional and unconventional) is refreshing and fascinating. I encourage Cleaster and look forward to the advancement and continued success of her career."
Curtis E. James, President
CJ Studios
New York, New York USA
2011
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"Cleaster Cotton is the Leonarda of our times - her versatility is almost unfathomable. As a painter of contemporary primitive art, her exuberant colors and sly wit make you glad to be alive. Her black and white photographs have a majesty, power and precision that remind you of the Art Deco era. Her color photographs have the uncanny ability to catch life in the act of happening – almost as if you, the viewer, are right there in the picture, at the moment it is taking place. And when you see her photographs of animals and nature, you’re convinced she gets pandas, zebras and orchids to tell her their deepest secrets. Cleaster Cotton is an American treasure. See her work and rejoice. In Cleaster Cotton’s latest – mostly abstract artwork – curves, lines and intensely saturated colors collide in explosive exuberance. Her joyful spirit shows throughout, almost as if she is beckoning you to, “Come along on this thrilling ride with me!” A collage (self-portrait?) made of different materials is sly, witty and also infused with brilliant color. Her uncanny ability to be both primitive and sophisticated shines through all her work."
"Cleaster Cotton is the Leonarda of our times - her versatility is almost unfathomable. As a painter of contemporary primitive art, her exuberant colors and sly wit make you glad to be alive. Her black and white photographs have a majesty, power and precision that remind you of the Art Deco era. Her color photographs have the uncanny ability to catch life in the act of happening – almost as if you, the viewer, are right there in the picture, at the moment it is taking place. And when you see her photographs of animals and nature, you’re convinced she gets pandas, zebras and orchids to tell her their deepest secrets. Cleaster Cotton is an American treasure. See her work and rejoice. In Cleaster Cotton’s latest – mostly abstract artwork – curves, lines and intensely saturated colors collide in explosive exuberance. Her joyful spirit shows throughout, almost as if she is beckoning you to, “Come along on this thrilling ride with me!” A collage (self-portrait?) made of different materials is sly, witty and also infused with brilliant color. Her uncanny ability to be both primitive and sophisticated shines through all her work."
Bobbie Kaplan, Award-winning Executive Creative Director
New York City, USA
2011
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Go to CLEASTER COTTON's virtual art galleries. See shows her new work and vintage pieces
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Cleaster
