Willie Robert Middlebrook, Jr.

Place: Detroit

Born: 1957

Death: 2012

Biography:

Willie Robert Middlebrook, Jr. was an American photographer, artist, and strong advocate for the African-American community in Los Angeles. He received many honors during his lifetime, including two Visual Artist Fellowships in photography from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Early Life and Education

Born on August 11, 1957, in Detroit, MI, Middlebrook moved to Greater Los Angeles with his family in 1960. He pursued an Associate of Arts degree in Art/Photography from Compton Community College and a Certificate in Design from the Communicative Arts Academy.

Artistic Career

Middlebrook's work has been collected by major museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and LACMA. He received many commissions for public works, such as the Los Angeles Metro Expo/Crenshaw Station. His legacy includes teaching at various institutions, including the Watts Towers Arts Center and the California State University Los Angeles.

Awards and Honors

Middlebrook was awarded a City of Los Angeles Individual Artist Fellowship grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs in 2009. He also received three commendations from the Los Angeles City Council for his photography.

• Two Visual Artist Fellowships in photography from the National Endowment for the Arts
• City of Los Angeles Individual Artist Fellowship grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs
• Three commendations from the Los Angeles City Council for his photography

Artistic Style and Techniques

Middlebrook's work often incorporated geometric elements, and he was known for his surrealistic black-and-white images. He used various techniques, including gelatin silver printing, to produce high-quality images. Gelatin silver printing is a photographic process that has been used for over a century to produce high-quality images. The process involves coating a sheet of paper with a layer of gelatin and silver salts, then exposing it to light through a negative. The exposed paper is then developed in a series of chemical baths, resulting in a black-and-white image. Middlebrook's work can be found on https://Wikioo.org, where his biography and artwork are featured. His painting, POMP #329 In the Shadow of the Cross, is a notable example of his work.

Conclusion

Willie Robert Middlebrook, Jr. was a talented artist and advocate for the African-American community in Los Angeles. His work has been recognized and honored, and his legacy continues to inspire artists today. For more information on gelatin silver printing and other artistic techniques, visit https://Wikioo.org.