Colors of Royalty

The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts presents a new art exhibition, Colors of Royalty, on view September 26 – December 7, 2024. This gallery show features regional artist Clayton Singleton and over thirty talented artists as they explore how colors and visual symbolism represent different definitions of wealth and status across various cultures and communities. Come see the art and meet the artists at the free opening reception on Thursday, October 3, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.

Colors of Royalty asks historically in art and even in nature, what colors evoke importance, which colors make one feel regal, and how can one express this in their visual art practice? Examples of artwork seen in the exhibition are a self-portrait of an artist in a pink traditional Korean attire, Hanbok, to a silver metal and mixed media artwork of a monarch butterfly, and gold sculpture of a last kiss to a loved one.

Clayton Singleton, a well-known artist in Hampton Roads, has eight of his signature paintings showcased in the exhibition, including acrylic painting, “American Royals”. Even though he creates commission-based work, his personal artistic practice distinctly has West African Adinkra symbols along with Black people of all ages and all walks of life as the main subject in his paintings. During his artistic career of over 25 years, Singleton fostered creativity in high school students as an art teacher, won various art awards from the d’Art Center in Norfolk, the Norfolk Arts Commission, and featured exhibitions at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chrysler Museum of Art and in the podcast by Black Art in America called, Studio Noize.

“The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts initially wanted an exhibition based on our performance season, with the Marshall Charloff’s Purple Piano and the Hurrah Players’ adaptation of Cinderella, but the theme developed into a deeper investigation of color and culture.” described Nana A.N. Ferdnance, the Visual Arts Manager at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts and curator of the exhibition. “The symbolism of color varies per culture, per community and connects to an individual’s identity. Certain color historically was difficult to access and when used in visual arts meant wealth and status. But color has adapted overtime to provide a visual language beyond wealth and represent an individual identity as well as the symbolize in communities. ”

Join us for two additional Colors of Royalty gallery events. On Saturday, October 5, 2-4 PM, Suffolk Author and Illustrator Kimberly Ellis is coming to the Suffolk Center on her book tour for her new children’s book “Annyeong, Korea!” Join us for the free ‘Annyeong Korea!’ book signing and cultural experience for kids. Please REGISTER in advance for FREE Book Signing.

Clayton Singleton will have a free ‘Gallery Talk’ at the Suffolk Center on Thursday, October 17, 2024, 5:30pm to 7:00pm. The evening will include a conversation with the Visual Arts Manager, Nana Ferdnance followed by a Q & A with the audience. Please REGISTER in advance for Clayton Singleton’s FREE Gallery Talk.

Come and experience how artists use color to express their human experience in the Colors of Royalty exhibition. Suffolk Center’s award-winning art galleries are free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The galleries are wheelchair-accessible on the 2nd floor at 110 W. Finney Avenue, Suffolk, Virginia 23434.