Arnold J. Kemp is an artist, curator, and educator whose work spans painting, sculpture, and writing. Recognized in conceptual and performance art, he explores identity, race, and cultural history through layered abstraction and symbolic references. He holds a BA/BFA in English and Studio Art from Tufts/SMFA and an MFA from Stanford. Kemp served as Dean of Graduate Studies at SAIC (2016–20), chaired PNCA’s MFA in Visual Studies and VCU Painting/Printmaking, and was Associate Curator at YBCA (1993–2003). Exhibited widely, his work is in the Studio Museum, Portland Art Museum, BAMPFA, Manetti Shrem, and the Met. Honors include Guggenheim, Pollock-Krasner, Joan Mitchell, and Warhol Foundation grants.
