Rufus Snoddy was born in East Texas, moved with his parents to Los Angeles. and grew up there in the inner city schools listening to the sound and texture of many languages in the halls and classrooms. He watched Los Angeles change from street cars and Hollywood bungalows to freeways and gated communities. He graduated from California State University at Los Angeles with an MFA. And continued to work and exhibit there until 2002 when he moved to Traverse City and taught Studio Arts and Design at Northwestern Michigan College until 2022. He has shown throughout the country and abroad, including Los Angeles, New York, and Paris. We at Red on Blue and the South Haven Area are honored to have him here. The striking color and form of Snoddy’s work also carries a message. He sees himself as part of a long line of messengers beginning with the early messengers whose work we see on the walls of caves. “ I see myself as just another messenger, hopefully with an innovative perspective.”

Disparate

Glimmer

Disappearing man contemplating Deviled Eggs

Statement:

Painting as Object is my preferred way of working. I approach this work with a sensibility of obliterating the line between painting and sculpture. My intent is to build textures, shapes, images, and surfaces to stress the illusions of color and space. Whether free standing or hanging, these pieces are created to interact with surrounding space. The content lends visible clues about perception. Materials are melded together without regard to the preservation of original intent, in deference to the process. I am influenced a great deal by my environmental surroundings in my choice of materials. Conceptually, I have a continuing dialogue about illusion and perception given impetus by the textural content of living in the United States of America as a Black male.

Ritual

Visceral Vision