Lonnie Holley

Lonnie Holley is an acclaimed American artist, art educator, and musician, recognized for his improvisational creativity across multiple mediums. After beginning his artistic journey in 1979 by carving tombstones from discarded sandstone blocks, Lonnie Holley went on to become an acclaimed American artist, art educator, and musician recognized for his improvisational creativity across multiple mediums. His unique work gained significant recognition in 1981 when the Birmingham Museum of Art director, Richard Murray, displayed some of his sandstone carvings. This exposure quickly led to his art being acquired by prestigious institutions such as the American Folk Art Museum and the High Museum of Art in the early 1980s.

Most recently, in 2022, Lonnie Holley was recognized as a Fellow by United States Artists, receiving an unrestricted cash award. His artwork continued to garner international attention, being featured in ‘Souls Grown Deep Like the Rivers: Black Artists from the American South’ at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2023. That year also saw the release of his latest solo album, ‘Oh Me Oh My.’ Looking ahead, Holley has his album ‘Tonky’ slated for release in 2025, and is scheduled for a two-week performance residency, SEEDS, at The Arts Center from October 21–November 1, 2025, further solidifying his multifaceted impact across the arts.