Lynchburg artist Ann van de Graaf was born in Africa and spent her childhood divided between East Africa and England. Africa continues to inspire and inform her work.
She studied painting and drawing under instructors associated with the Lynchburg Art Club and the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center. In 1974 she graduated from Randolph Macon Woman's College with a double major in Art and Sociology.
Her work is found in both public and private collections in the United States, Europe, Africa and Australia. Adept in different media, her work ranges from wall murals and large figurative oils to small egg tempera paintings. She is also interested in combining graphic art with the written word, and her drawings have illustrated several books.
Ms. van de Graaf has exhibited in many solo and group shows in the Lynchburg area, Washington, DC and New England. She has received recognition through national and local awards for her work. In 1982 she was a fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
Much of her earlier work reflects her involvement with Civil Rights and the African American community in Lynchburg. A major commissioned work is a large, panoramic triptych depicting the persons and landmarks associated with the civil rights struggle for racial equity in Lynchburg during the 1960s and '70s. It is owned by the Legacy Museum of African American History, Lynchburg where it is on permanent exhibition.
Always interested in conveying the underlying spiritual dimension to life, Ann van de Graaf's work is currently influenced by the artistic expressions of indiginous people that reflect the human tie to the Earth and Spirit, and the mystery of that connection.
About Ann van de Graaf
ART RESUME, ANN VAN DE GRAAF
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
LYNCHBURG ART CLUB, Lynchburg, VA 2015
YWCA, Lynchburg, VA. 2014
GALLERY 921, Lynchburg, VA. 2012
LYNCHBURG FINE ARTS CENTER, Lynchburg, VA. 1998
LYNCHBURG ART CLUB, Lynchburg, VA. 1987
RANDOLPH MACON WOMAN'S COLLEGE, Lynchburg, VA. 1986
LYNCHBURG FINE ARTS CENTER, Lynchburg, VA. 1984
EVANS-TIBBS COLLECTION, Washington, DC. 1984
LYNCHBURG NAACP HEADQUARTERS, Lynchburg, VA. 1983
SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE, Amherst, VA. 1983
THE FORBES LIBRARY, Northampton, MA. 1982
EVANS-TIBBS GALLERY, Washington, DC. 1979
LYNCHBURG FINE ARTS CENTER, Lynchburg, VA. 1974
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
RIVERVIEWS ART SPACE, Lynchburg, VA 2009
GALLERY 921, Lynchburg, VA 2008
LYNCHBURG ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, National juried exhibit. 2007. Juror’s Award
LYNCHBURG FINE ARTS CENTER, Four person exhibit. 2003
BEDFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY, Bedford Blue Ridge Arts Council, 2002. 3rd. place award
LYNCHBURG COLLEGE, Riverviews Artists Exhibition 1997
LYNCHBURG ART CLUB. Two person exhibit. 1991
LYNCHBURG ART CLUB. The Feminine Spirit. 1989
THE THIRD NEW WORLD FESTIVAL, Paramaribo, Suriname. 1982
LYNCHBURG FINE ARTS CENTER AREA JURIED SHOWS. 1969 - 2004
FELLOWSHIPS:
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts : Fellowship, 1982
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS:
Amazement Square, Lynchburg. 2000: 20ft mural celebrating children and the arts
The Legacy Project, Inc., 1993: Large triptych on the Civil Rights Movement in Lynchburg, VA. entitled
Lord, Plant My Feet on Higher Ground.
Lynchburg Bicentennial Commission,1986: Large mural exhibit on the life of Booker T. Washington,
in conjunction with the Booker T. Washington National Monument.
.
COLLECTIONS:
Represented in many public and private collections.
PUBLICATIONS:
Lynch's Ferry Magazine, author and illustrator of an article on John Chilembwe: Summer 2007
Lynch's Ferry Magazine, author of an article on "The Making of Lord Plant my Feet on Higher Ground:Fall/Winter 1994
Illustrated Atlanta's Children, a book of poetry by L. Garnell Stamps: 1982
Illustrated This Robe of Flesh, a book of poetry by L. Garnell Stamps: 1983
Ota Benga and the Pygmies: an Ongoing Story. Author and illustrator for a small book: 2006.
