About the artist:

Alvin C. Hoolingsworth was born in 1930 in New York City. He began drawing at the age of four and by twelve had launched a career in drawing comic book cartoons professionally. The experience culminated with his creation of "Scorchy Smith", a syndicated comic series that appeared in 140 newspapers.

Hollingsworth's formal art studies began at New York City's High School of Music and Art and continued at the City College of New York City where he received his bachelor of arts degree in 1956 and his master's in 1959.

An expressionistic and figurative artist whose talents transcended beyond the canvas, Hollingsworth's varied art contributions include a children's book entitled "I'd Like the Guggenheim", and writing and moderating three television series: "You're A Part of Art", "The Creative Years", and "You've Gotta Have Art." An accomplished poet, Hollinsworth often composed poetry to accompany his exhibitions.

During the 1960s, Hollingsworth was a member of the SPIRAL group, the legendary group of African American artists who met weekly to discuss the art and the political issues of the time, and offer exhibition opportunities to Black artists. In 1962, Hollingsworth was awarded the prestigious Emily Lowe Award, and in 1964, he received a Whitney Fellowship.

In 1962, Hollingsworth began a body of work that utilized debris, glass, wood, slate, Formica, and paper to create a series of protest paintings. Hollingsworth commented, "An artist can best express him or herself with materials and subject (they are) most familiar with." As a New York City artist, some of Hollingsworth's art consisted of found objects (later referred to as "Concrete Art"), resulting in texture and surface complexities.

Hollingsworth's art is figurative and abstract, using acrylic, oils, pen and ink, collage, and mixed media. A strong theme is the depiction of figures within figures and subtle images that emerge to the viewer. Much happens in small spaces. Colors are vivid and unexpected, yet harmonious and emotionally evocative. Content is widely diverse, often socially conscious, and ranges from very serious to quite humorous. His early experience as a successful cartoonist and illustrator is part of his style.

"One of the leading painters in America" is Jeanne Seigal's description of Hollingsworth in Artwords. Bruce J. Friedman described his "stunning and riotous works" as "powerful, delicate, and lasting." When viewing the Jazz series, Roy Eaton called Hollingsworth "a conceptualizer with extraordinary perceptive skills who enables the onlooker to see what he hears."