Specializing in Original Black Art created by Emerging and Aspiring Artist!
Donald McCray
About Donald McCray
Printmaker, Photographer, Multi-Media Artist
I was born in Baltimore Maryland and raised in Washington DC spent many informative years exploring museums throughout the city, and abroad. The museums of Washington were my creative inspiration, and I discovered a variety of visual stimulations that changed my life. I come from a family of creative individuals, and learned from an early age the importance of art. Through the years I have had the honor of associations with some of the greatest African American artist of the pass century, i.e., painting instructions from Huey Lee Smith, sculptural technical advice from Richard Hunt, and Lillian Thomas Burwell.
I have had the privilege to have been in art exhibitions with Jacob Lawrence, Sam Gilliam, Dr. Lois M. Jones, Elizabeth Catlett, James L. Wells Sr. and extremely grateful to be able to help late friend, and mentor Dr. David C. Driskell as a studio assistant.
I have been in several exhibitions through the years, and have work in public collections around the country, and aboard. I am extremely pleased to have my work in the private collections of Dr. Cornell West, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Dick Gregory, Julius Irving, Michael Jordan, Ahmad Jamal, and the Honorable Minister Louise J. Farrakhan.
I attended East Texas State University, Commerce, TX, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD, Bowie State University, Bowie, MD, and postgraduate studies at the George Washington University, Washington, DC.
The challenge, as with any recreated moment from the past or present is to not caricaturize the moment, and I capture it in its natural essence, and always in an exploratory mode when creation occurs, and truly enjoy every moment of the creative journey. The artwork speaks not only to the artist, but for society. I am only the vessel and allow the divine spirit of the Creator to guide me through the process of making art in several areas of my creative curiosity. Art is my Passion.
Gallery Exhibitions and Showings
- The Robinson Gallery, Washington, DC
- The Firebird Gallery, Alexandria, VA
- The Zenith Gallery, Washington, DC
- The Gallery of Fats Dreams, Hyattsville, MD
- Art-O-Matic, Washington, DC
- The Green Owl, Hyattsville, MD,
- Just Looking Gallery, Hagerstown, MD
- Bowie State University, Bowie, MD
- East Texas State University, Commerce, Texas
- Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
- Smithsonian Institution the Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC
- The Lyons Den, Washington, DC
- Kulture Gallery, Waldorf, MD
- What’s in a Frame, Landover, MD
- Baraka Art and Frame, Bowie, MD
- Prints and Things, Landover, MD
- Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC
- Kaiser Permanente, Hyattsville, MD
- Long and Foster, Bowie, MD
- NDA Dental Association, Largo, MD
- International Gallery, Washington, DC
- Lindy’s of Commerce, Commerce, TX
- The College Inn, Commerce, TX
- New Bethany Baptist Church, Washington, DC
- Glenarden Public Library, Glenarden, MD
- Chevy Chase Public Library, Chevy Chase, MD
- The Martin Luther King Public Library, Washington, DC
- Judge Sylvania W. Woods Elementary School, Glenarden, MD
- Bancroft Elementary School, Washington, DC
- Crofton Elementary School, Crofton, MD
- The Newport School, Kensington, MD
- Sis’s Tavern, North Brentwood, MD
- Fort Foote Baptist Church, Fort Washington, MD
- The Mark Twain School, Rockville, MD
- Lustine, Hyattsville, MD
- Blacks Art in America, Baltimore, MD
- Donald McCray Contemporary Art Studio, North Brentwood, MD
Donald and Sam Gilliam
Black Art Today! is now The Black Art Today Foundation
We are excited to announce that Black Art Today!, LLC is now Black Art Today, Inc. Maryland Trade Name, The Black Art Today Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) Public Charity. The change is only in name and structure, as we remain committed to fulfill our mission to promote artists that depict the African Diaspora in the forms of visual arts, literature, and performing arts.
We value and request your continued support during and at the completion of this transition. We firmly believe that as we grow and mature as an organization so does the art community as a whole.