Members of the Arcadia University community celebrated renowned African-American sculptor John Rhoden–and his two bronze sculptures currently on display in Landman Library–on Thursday, Feb. 13. Guests gathered in the Beaver College Room of Landman Library to hear a lecture by Dr. Brittany Webb, the curator of the John Rhoden Collection at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), which donated the sculptures.

In her lecture titled, “John Rhoden: An American Artist Around the World” Dr. Webb detailed how Rhoden’s ambition led him from his hometown of Birmingham, Ala. to prestigious institutions such as Columbia University, the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, and the American Academy in Rome. She also explored how his work as a U.S. State Department art specialist took him to over 20 countries, shaping both his creative vision and his role as a cultural ambassador.

“Traveling the world as an artist meant that he was frequently connecting with other artists,” Dr. Webb explained. It creates a kind of community within the guild, similar to traveling as a researcher. It also is not lost on me that he was traveling during some of the most contentious periods of activism stateside. When his hometown is literally going up in flames, we have images of him halfway around the world teaching students in Indonesia, which just shows his dedication to his art and being an educator.” 

She also noted that now the Birmingham Museum of Art has many pieces from Rhoden’s collection in the museum’s permanent collection.

“This is something we’re especially proud of since that’s his hometown museum,” Dr. Webb added. “It’s one way to kind of reclaim a kind of history that could’ve been lost but wasn’t. There are a million stories we could tell from this project, and I always hope this project serves as a kind of love letter to artists and educators.”

Following the lecture, attendees gathered for a reception in the Susan Smyth Shenker ’69 Grand Reading Room, where the newly acquired artworks were unveiled in their permanent home.

“It was pretty interesting, never heard of John Rhoden before tonight,” said Titus Humbert ’27. “I think it’s interesting that he came from the South at that time but could still travel the world and become a successful sculptor.”

After listening to Dr. Webb’s lecture, Studio Art major Cody Meeks ’25 wishes there were even more opportunities to interact with sculpture as an art form and other art history centered around artists of color.

“I think it’s a step forward in really bringing us into talking about people of color in the arts, we don’t talk about it enough,” Meeks said. “I think good stewardship over art is something we can do, and if it’s something we can do, we should. With PAFA shutting down something had to be done about their collections and I’m glad we had the opportunity to get some of the pieces.”

Born in Alabama in 1916, Rhoden became a pivotal figure in 20th-century sculpture, known for his innovative approach and ability to merge artistic traditions from around the world. His legacy includes exhibitions at major institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, as well as large-scale public commissions.

The event was hosted by Arcadia’s College of Arts and Sciences, in collaboration with University Advancement. It was free and open to the public, providing students, faculty, staff, and community members with the opportunity to engage with Rhoden’s work and legacy. 

Joyful Films will also release a visual documentary in the coming weeks on the Arcadia University Alumni Vimeo, presenting the full journey of the donated sculptures–from their unveiling to their placement in the Grand Reading Room.