ABOUT RASHID

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In 1990, Rashid Lane was born in California. His family relocated to Texas in 1995. During this time, he developed a passion for drawing. He continued pursing his art through formal education. After finishing his secondary school studies in Palestine, TX, he attended Texas A&M University-Commerce. In 2013, he received his Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Art Education with Summa Cum Laude recognition. He continued his education, with encouragement from friends and family, and received his Master’s of Education degree in 2015.

While in undergraduate school, he was awarded the Undergraduate Excellence Award in the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibit. In graduate school, along with other students, he worked with artist, Patrick Dougherty,  on a public art project. The piece they created is titled, "Deep in The Heart" and is on view at Texas A&M University - Commerce. 

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He currently works as a Visual Arts Teacher where he has successfully taught award winning art students in Houston, Texas. His love for art has also been demonstrated through his role as an Adjunct Art History Instructor. In 2022 he had his firs solo exhibition at LoneStar College that explored the theme of fatherhood prior to that show he actively participated in gallery shows throughout Houston, Texas. 

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Artist Statement 

As stated by Tumelo Mosaka in his book, Negotiating Identity, “Artists, writers, and academics have engaged in a critical debate about the meaning of African culture in a postmodern, global society.” As an African-American Artist myself, issues of identity, race, and globalization are meaningful and personal. I am questioning the ways in which identity is shaped in regards to family, ethnicity, and geographic location. My focus is the cultural identities of black males that include those from the African Diaspora. This includes African-Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, and Afro-Latinos.

To start, I am looking at the foundational family relationships that shape men by going back to the connection between a father and son. Questions I am asking in regards to this topic are: How is fatherhood defined? Are we looking at a new generation of nurturers? What are major challenges fathers of today are facing? My current body of work is a series of portraits that display the bond between a father and son of African-Americans.

Through my search to understand the plot and culture of the Afro-dimensions of history, I will seek information about fatherhood and identity from different perspectives. Afro-descendants of Argentina, Cuba, Columbia, Ecuador and Mexico will be investigated to shed light on the experience of Afro-Latinos. My future artworks will expand on the continuing globalization of African culture and identity.