Allen 'Big Al' Carter

Allen Dester Carter
Born(1947-06-29)June 29, 1947
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 2008(2008-12-18) (aged 61)
EducationColumbus College of Art and Design
Known forpainting

Allen Dester Carter (June 29, 1947[1][2] – December 18, 2008),[3] known as 'Big Al' Carter, was an Alexandria, Virginia artist and public school art teacher[1][4] in Washington, D.C.[5]

When profiled by The Washington Post Magazine in May 2006,[1] Carter estimated that he had 20,000 works of art—"from intricate etchings to enormous day-glo paintings"—in the 900-square-foot space where he lived.[1] Carter worked across all media, from large format photographs, to pen-and-ink drawings, to mono prints, etchings, paintings, murals and ceramics. He often incorporated found objects and other everyday materials—like popsicle sticks, buttons, and clothes pins into his work. His work featured people he met fishing along the Potomac River, friends, and family members. Much of his work is whimsical with bold colors and lines, but he also addressed themes of poverty, racism, death and dying, religion and spirituality.[6]

  1. ^ a b c d Battiata, Mary (May 21, 2006). "Living Color". The Washington Post Magazine. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  2. ^ "Allen Dester "Big Al" Carter". Find a Grave. 18 December 2008.
  3. ^ Coronado, Kris (January 31, 2010). "Whatever Happened To ... artist Big Al Carter?". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  4. ^ "Big man, big legacy: Artwork of 'Big Al' Carter comes to ASU". Arizona State University. 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  5. ^ Schudel, Matt (January 11, 2009). "Compulsive Painter Defied Stylistic Trends". The Washington Post.
  6. ^ Remembrance : Remembering Big Al [Allen D. Carter] ‘Same Ol’ Big...’, June 29, 1947-December 18, 2008. The International Review of African American Art, vol. 22, no. 3, 2009, pp. 63–64.