Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden

Exhibition Info
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Fisher Brooks Gallery
Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building
Curated by
Dr. Brittany Webb, Evelyn and Will Kaplan Curator of Twentieth Century Art and the John Rhoden Collection
The first comprehensive retrospective of twentieth century African American sculptor, John Rhoden (1916-2001)

With a sculptural sensibility defined by his extensive world travels, sensualism, and a breadth of visual influences, Rhoden worked in a style that was ahead of his time. Through approximately 70 sculptures in bronze, wood, and stone, and archival materials from the recently-processed John Rhoden Papers, this exhibition will illustrate the visual and technical mastery of this award-winning artist.

Discover the incredible work and personal story of one of the most prolific sculptors of the 20th century.

Listen to the Determined To Be exhibition playlist on Apple Music or Spotify.

John Rhoden Digital Archives

In 2017, the John Rhoden Estate selected PAFA to assume the responsibility of preserving and promoting John Rhoden's artistic legacy. The Rhoden Collection includes over 300 works of art and 22 linear feet of archival materials. In 2019, PAFA was awarded a grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to organize the archival papers and provide free online access to the public. The grant team dedicated over a year on the project to deliver 5,000 digital objects online. The johnrhoden.pafaarchives.org online portal provides a curated look into the life of John Rhoden and highlights a few areas that can be further explored using the archival collections.

Exhibition Highlights

Bronze sculpture of a lion.
John W. Rhoden (1916-2001). Three Headed Lion, 1954. Bronze, The John Walter Rhoden and Richanda Phillips Rhoden Collection, 2019.27.3.
A wooden sculpture of a human head.
Invictus, 1948, Rosewood, overall: 19 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 9 in. (49.5 x 21.6 x 22.9 cm)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The John Walter Rhoden and Richanda Phillips Rhoden Collection, 2019.27.1 Image credit: ©Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto
A wooden sculpture of two human figures kissing.
Kiss, undated . Wood, overall: 29 1/2 x 10 x 10 in. (74.9 x 25.4 x 25.4 cm). JR228
A bronze sculpture of a female figure.
Eve, 1957. Bronze, overall: 48 1/4 x 16 x 17 1/2 in. (122.6 x 40.6 x 44.5 cm)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The John Walter Rhoden and Richanda Phillips Rhoden Collection, 2019.27.4 Image credit: ©Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto
Bronze sculpture of five figures.
Safari, 1958. Bronze, overall: 38 x 27 3/4 x 7 1/4 in. (96.5 x 70.5 x 18.4 cm)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The John Walter Rhoden and Richanda Phillips Rhoden Collection, 2019.27.5 Image credit: ©Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto
Bronze abstract sculpture.
Confrontation (fragment), 1969. Bronze, 91 x 26 x 29 1/2 in. (231.1 x 66 x 74.9 cm)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The John Walter Rhoden and Richanda Phillips Rhoden Collection, 2019.27.9 Image credit: ©Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto
Wooden sculpture of a human figure.
The Offering, 1963. Teak, overall: 108 x 19 x 19 in. (274.3 x 48.3 x 48.3 cm)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The John Walter Rhoden and Richanda Phillips Rhoden Collection, 2019.27.17
Bronze sculpture of a female dancer.
Dancer, undated. Bronze, overall: 31 x 6 x 8 in. (78.7 x 15.2 x 20.3 cm)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The John Walter Rhoden and Richanda Phillips Rhoden Collection, 2018.13.4

Exhibition Support

Terra Foundation for American ArtWilliam Penn Foundation

 

 

 

Logos

 

Determined To Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden is made possible thanks to the following generous supporters.

Lead support and artwork provided by the estate of Richanda Rhoden. Major support is provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art, William Penn Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by the Wyeth Foundation for American Art and donors to PAFA’s Special Exhibition Fund.  

Lead support for the exhibition catalogue is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation.

The organization and digitization of the John Rhoden Archives at PAFA was made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

News and Press

NEH Awards Grant to PAFA to Make John Rhoden Collection Publicly Available

PAFA has been awarded $75K from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in order to process, catalog, digitize, and make publicly available an archival collection documenting the life and career of the late African American artist John W. Rhoden.

New Arts Center Features 7 Sculptures From Artist John Rhoden

Visitors to the newly-opened Rhoden Arts Center will encounter seven works by the late sculptor John Rhoden. PAFA acquired the estate of Rhoden, which includes more than 275 works by the African American sculptor. The works on view in the Arts Center serve as a precursor to the Rhoden exhibition PAFA will mount in the future.

PAFA’s Newest Curator Works to Celebrate the Life of John Rhoden

In 2018, PAFA took over responsibility for more than 275 works by the late African American sculptor John Rhoden. As the curator of the John Rhoden collection, Brittany Webb is being tasked with stewarding Rhoden’s legacy through a major exhibition at PAFA and distributing the artist’s work among museums across the country.

Eight John Rhoden Sculptures Added to PAFA's Permanent Collection

As construction continues on the John and Richanda Rhoden Arts Center, PAFA is accessioning eight John Rhoden sculptures to serve as the focal points for the new auditorium space, opening this winter. Dr. Brittany Webb, the curator of the collection, says the eight sculptures chosen for the arts center show the breadth of Rhoden’s career.

PAFA Acquires Hundreds of Works from the John Rhoden Estate

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is proud to announce that the academy is taking responsibility of more than 275 works by American sculptor John Rhoden (1918-2001).