Tyrone Mitchell (b. 1944) is a sculptor whose approach involves integrating personal experiences with a broader understanding of the history of sculpture worldwide. His interests lie in how materials solidify and shape his sculptural ideas. Inspired by the likes of Julio Gonzales, Pablo Picasso, David Smith, and Auguste Rodin, Mitchell incorporates applied stains, industrial paint, metal sheets, and fabrics into his works. Travel deeply influences the artist’s work and his background in photography assists him in researching and documenting how various cultures differ in how they create and construct. Allowing his found materials to speak for themselves is crucial to Mitchell’s artistic practice; by integrating these objects into his artwork, Mitchell not only extends their lifespan, but contributes to a broader conversation of global circumstances.
Mitchell received the equivalent of a BFA in 1965 from the Art Students League of New York. He went on to the New York Studio School, earning the equivalent of a MFA from the institution in 1967. He has had solo exhibitions at G.R. N'Namdi Gallery in Chicago and Birmingham; Bomani Gallery in San Francisco; the Bronx Museum of Art; and the Newark Museum. Mitchell has been included in group exhibitions at the Studio Museum in Harlem, Painted Bride Art Center in Philadelphia, Museo de Artes Visuales 'Alejandro Otero' at La Rinconada in Venezuela, and the Fukui Fine Art Museum in Japan, to name but a few. Mitchell’s work is part of various collections, including the Collection of The Newark Museum, The Delaware Art Museum, The Schomburg Center, Time Equities Inc. Readers Digest Corporate Collection, Forma Viva Sculpture Park and Winston Salem State University Sculpture Garden. His honors include fellowships from the Joan Mitchell Foundation, Lila Wallace, and the Guggenheim Foundation.
Mitchell has taught at Bard College, Hunter College, and the Delhi College of Art in India; He currently teaches at Queens College in New York.
Read about Mitchell's group exhibition at the Museo de Artes Visuales in Caracas, Venezuela