MARVIN RHODES estate
Marvin Rhodes self portrait c. 1985
Marvin Rhodes was born in Spearsville, Louisiana in 1949 and died in Atlanta in 2017. He was a friend and photographic mentor to gallery director Shawn Vinson, whom he entrusted to manage his photo archive after his passing.
Vinson first featured Marvin's photographs at his eponymous Decatur gallery in the late nineties, when Atlanta Celebrates Photography was just starting. The gallery showed his expressive photographs of transvestites, Elvis impersonators, Vietnam veterans and everyday people he encountered on the street. He was fearless when approaching complete strangers to ask if he could take their pictures. He didn't need fancy cameras or expensive equipment to make his art, preferring instead to use a Polaroid or a Holga.
Rhodes was a retired Photography Professor at Atlanta College of Art and Southeastern Center for the Arts and a Veteran of the United States Marine Corp, serving in Vietnam. He was a graduate of Old Dominion University and obtained a Master's Degree from Georgia State University. Marvin was active in the City of Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs, where he received many grants and earned the Award of Excellence from the City of Atlanta and Georgia State University Alumni Association. Marvin was known for being straight forward, honest and having a very quick wit. He helped countless homeless veterans with a selfless concern of never being noticed. His work graces the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, High Museum of Art, San Francisco Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art.
Remembering Marvin Rhodes, a small retrospective exhibition, will be on view at our main gallery from Sep 19 - Oct 19, 2019 - in conjunction with Atlanta Celebrates Photography 2019 #acpfest
Vinson first featured Marvin's photographs at his eponymous Decatur gallery in the late nineties, when Atlanta Celebrates Photography was just starting. The gallery showed his expressive photographs of transvestites, Elvis impersonators, Vietnam veterans and everyday people he encountered on the street. He was fearless when approaching complete strangers to ask if he could take their pictures. He didn't need fancy cameras or expensive equipment to make his art, preferring instead to use a Polaroid or a Holga.
Rhodes was a retired Photography Professor at Atlanta College of Art and Southeastern Center for the Arts and a Veteran of the United States Marine Corp, serving in Vietnam. He was a graduate of Old Dominion University and obtained a Master's Degree from Georgia State University. Marvin was active in the City of Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs, where he received many grants and earned the Award of Excellence from the City of Atlanta and Georgia State University Alumni Association. Marvin was known for being straight forward, honest and having a very quick wit. He helped countless homeless veterans with a selfless concern of never being noticed. His work graces the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, High Museum of Art, San Francisco Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art.
Remembering Marvin Rhodes, a small retrospective exhibition, will be on view at our main gallery from Sep 19 - Oct 19, 2019 - in conjunction with Atlanta Celebrates Photography 2019 #acpfest
