Artist Biography

At an early age, John Whitehead showed a high appreciation and ability for visual arts, spatial relationships, and math. By the age of ten, without any formal training, he had begun painting in oils, creating architectural models, working in clay, and drawing imaginative abstract images.

John’s formal training in art began while he was attending Hoover Middle School in West Oakland. Unfortunately, his middle school art classes did not seriously challenge him nor contribute much to his artistic growth. So, by the time John entered high school, he had abandoned all hope of ever growing as an artist or sculptor.

And then, a miracle occurred. Assigned to a sculpting class at the request of his Aunt Ina, he was introduced to the teachings of Richard Davies, a dedicated and talented art teacher at McClymonds High School in West Oakland. Under his astute tutelage, John was exposed to a whole new approach to art, which emphasized geometric abstraction, creative expression, and constructivist art. Armed with this new approach, John entered and won a major Oakland Unified School District-sponsored art competition and placed either first, second or third in several other local art competitions.

Starting around 2005, about ten years before his retirement as a tenured professor in economics at CCSF, John began creating beautiful multi-colored abstract wall sculptures from various art media. Soon after, he began a new body of work consisting of geometric abstract stainless steel and aluminum sculpture influenced by the sculpting methods and paradigms introduced to him in his high school sculpting class. John’s current work is heavily influenced by David Smith’s “Cubi” series and Fletcher Benton’s “Folded Circle” series.

Artist Statement

My sculptural work evolves from the constructivist and geometric abstract traditions. While it is inspired by my faith in humanity and the beauty of nature, it is most directly influenced by Fletcher Benton’s geometric abstractions and David Smith’s “Cubi” series. Stylistically, my work contains a variety of geometric constructions, shapes, and patterning curves and spaces that exhibit movement, harmony, energy, symmetry, and balance.

I view my work as an evolving process that seeks to achieve four objectives: 1) to provide art that is imaginative and original; 2) to provide art that is three dimensional and interesting from all angles; 3) to provide art that will be true to my vision, while stimulating the imagination and intellect of the viewer; and 4) to provide art that reflects meticulous craftsmanship, structural strength, and durable materials.