Alonzo Adams

When nationally acclaimed artist Alonzo Adams’ career began three decades ago, he couldn’t have imagined where a paintbrush and a gift would take him.

I was born in Harlem and raised in New Jersey by a single mom who taught at a very young age the importance of a strong work ethic. My only dream was to be an artist, but I soon realized that just putting in hard work wasn’t enough, I had to knock down barriers to have my work shown at galleries.

A gallery owner once said to me, “Alonzo we know you can paint masterfully, but if your work was put in a time capsule and opened up in 50 years, would there be anything in it that provided insight about the era you were a part of?” This statement stuck with me for many years and it wasn’t until my mother lay in a coma for two months, that the statement began to resonate with me on a deep level. For several weeks, I sat at the bedside of my mother as she rested in her hospital room. I could feel so many emotions, and at the same time feel numb. The repetition of prayer, finding hope and expressing love to my mother became all that I could give to make it through the day. The experience of walking down the hallway, the smell of a hospital, and the sterile look of each room was all sad. One day, however, the same sadness came over me and this time fear, anger, and rage came too as I heard the call “CODE BLUE” over the intercom. CODE BLUE means a life is being lost and needs resuscitation and I heard “CODE BLUE” every single day I visited the hospital, but on this day, it was different.

This is where the Code Blue series began. “CODE BLUE” indicates an emergency, that someone is dying, that someone has stopped breathing, and that life could be over. “CODE BLUE” is Black—Black women, Black men, Black trans folks, Black youth, Black aunties, Black cousins, Black teachers, Black friends, Black business owners, Black, Black, Black in America. We are constantly living in a state of “CODE BLUE.” As a Black man, raising two Black sons, with a Black wife, and Black nieces in the current political climate that exists in the United States has made me concentrate on issues that are relevant today.

Code Blue is a dedication to the Black community, and this much sought after series is comprised of paintings that deal with racism, self-hate, coming of age and pride. Our resilience, courage, knowledge, and beauty come through in each piece. From the stack of books that tell our stories, to the deep stare into eyes of an elder, and the explicit naming that “I am not a nigger” and “I am not a bitch,” this series is my letter of love to each of you who look like me and my family. In the reveal of the piece Daughters of the Movement, I had the opportunity to watch the faces of my collectors, supporters and individuals who have been by my side since day one take a breath, a pause, and then smile. I was witness to the feeling of joy, liberation, and celebration of Black girlhood that some of the attendees experienced.

As seen and experienced in Code Blue, my work overall tells the audience about my love and gratitude for Black women, and the strength embodied by Black women and Black girls. I was raised by a strong Black woman and have the privilege of being in the lives of multiple Black girls. Each day I learn how I, as a Black man, know many of the things that I know because of Black women. I too believe that a Black girl will save the world, and my work seeks to show the dynamic, unwavering, and unapologetic features of Black women and girls.

Art is not about painting pretty pictures to match your home decor. It’s about creating work to touch the soul of our people.

I want people to engage with my work in educational settings, inside their homes, and in galleries and museums. I hope that my work provides people with the ability to see themselves, discuss systemic issues, and feel in new ways. When I am no longer here, I want my work to tell the stories of the right now.

“Being a visual griot is my oxygen”

Alonzo graduate of Rutgers University with a B.F.A. and a fellow recipient to University of Penn where he received an M.F.A.