Description
Bikers in the Hood by Robert Jefferson
18″ x 22″
Open Edition Print
Fine art exhibition salutes Robert L. Jefferson
by Bobbi Booker Tribune Staff Writer – Philadelphia Tribune Newspaper
A consummate artist in a true sense of the word, the late Robert L. Jefferson Sr. created images many have seen hanging on walls of private homes, on murals, in magazines and most notably, every year since 1970, in the Black History Calendar, which he produced with his good friends Cal Massey and George A. Beach. An alumni of the University of the Arts (known as Philadelphia College of Art during their school days) have coordinated a salutation exhibition for the their late friend and fellow fine artist. Organizers include Massey, Beach, Frank Stevens and Phil Sumpter, whose works will also be featured in the tribute exhibit.
Jefferson was born Nov. 10, 1929, in Philadelphia to Henry and Alease Jefferson, among three siblings, sister Jackie and brother Hank. “Jeff,” as he was affectionately known, began his education in the Philadelphia school system, and demonstrated artistic talent at a young age.
“We started doing cartoons when we were about 10 or 11 and at that time we were doing those sitting on the porch steps at 48th and Fairmount Avenue,” said Sumpter, his lifelong friend. “We used to do comic books at that time when Superman, Batman, the Green Lantern and all of those guys first came out. We used to try to copy those pages: He had a character, and I had a character that we had created. We used to do that stuff.”
The Jefferson family eventually moved to a home his father built in Yeadon, from where Jefferson graduated Yeadon High School. As a youth, he spent a great deal of time traveling Europe and Northern Africa with his family as his father was an engineer employed by the U.S. government. The younger Jefferson attended the Philadelphia College of Art for a number of years before his education was interrupted by the draft. He served in the Army Core of Engineers during the Korean War, where he drafted technical designs and drawings for the military earning the rank of Corporal.
“We graduated in the same class from the University of the Arts, at that time it was called the University College of Arts, and we went into the service on the same day: July 5, 1951,” recalled Sumpter. “He went in the Army and I went in the Air Force, and then as providence would have it, we hooked up again in Paris in about 1953. His dad was an engineer working as a civilian engineer for the Army Air Force at the time and consequently he was doing work over in Morocco, and Jeff went over as one of his father’s draftsman. He was there for about a year or so and I went to Casablanca to visit him there, then his father went on to Italy for another assignment and Jeff decided to go to Paris, so we hooked up in Paris.”
Upon returning to the United States, he became known for painting watercolor scenes of the Philadelphia area. In 1969 he married Lydia Booker and in 1972 they had a son, Robert Jr. Jefferson also began his career as an illustrator with his work displayed in newspapers, magazines, and his favorite medium, children’s books. In fact, he spent a great deal of time collaborating with authors, because he was very passionate about helping them bring to life the image their words evoked. Jefferson was prominent in the Philadelphia art scene, being instrumental in many local events, festivals, and exhibitions; including the annual Clothesline Exhibit in Rittenhouse Square.
A Fine Art Exhibition Salutation to Robert L. Jefferson (1929-2014), University of the Arts Class of 1950 presented by Friends of Robert Jefferson will be on display at the Philadelphia Plastics Art Club (247 S. Camac St.). The exhibit will feature various works spanning the career of Robert Jefferson as well as works by his friends and colleagues. A free public reception will be held on Sunday from 1 p.m. — 5 p.m.
