Description
John Whitehead sculpture: “Cubiexistentialism”. Mirror polished stainless steel. 29″ x 10.5″ x 10.5″
Artist’s description: Inspired by David Smith’s “Cubi” series, this sculpture juxtaposes cubes and 90 degree-angled square tubes to exhibit vertical flowing patterns, shapes, and spaces with asymmetric balance. The vertical arrangement gives the sculpture a flow of angles and spaces that exhibit harmony, balance, and radiance.
About the artist: John Whitehead was born in Demerara, Guyana. He came to the United States at age five and grew up in various inner-city neighborhoods on the west side of Oakland, California. At an early age, John showed a high appreciation and ability for visual arts, spatial relationships, and math.
John Whitehead attended McClymonds High School in West Oakland where an exceptional art teacher introduced him to geometric abstraction, constructivist art, and abstract expressionist sculpture. Encouraged by his teacher and his aunt, John entered and placed in several local art competitions.
Inspired by his family to pursue a career that would allow him to escape the trappings of inner-city poverty, John attended U.C. Berkeley, receiving his B.A. in economics with high honors and a minor in art in 1979. In 1986, he was awarded a master’s degree in economics with magna cum laude distinction from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
John Whitehead spent 25-years as a professor of economics at City College of San Francisco. Toward the end of this period he began to revisit his early passion and ability for visual arts. Now retired from teaching, John has successfully pivoted toward creating sculptures.
