Charles Dickson has been an important figure in the Black LA art scene for several decades. His intricate carvings in wood and metal reflect the African Diaspora with direct references to traditional motifs, languages and styles of well-documented and heavily collected African ritual objects and language including Ghanaian Adinkra symbols. His iconic Compton studio is a place of wonder that merges history with the present through Dickson’s own fantastical imagination. He represents the crossroads between the continent as the modern Black American migration story westward, as well as between the elders including Charles White, John Riddle Noah Purifoy and Judson Powell who were instrumental in mentoring the young artist and helping shape his visual voice.

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"Being an Artist is a gift – a way to pray and create the visions of the past, present and the future; It is a need to create a trail that reflects my growth as a Sculptor and as an African American.” Currently, I am a Featured Artist working with the Destination Crenshaw Project in Los Angeles – designing a massive 20-foot-tall work of art representing the “Car Culture.”  The projected completion date is March 2023. I am an Artist-in-Residence at the Watts Towers Art Center Campus and the Caretaker of the Watts Towers of Simon Rodia with LACMA’s preservation program.  I have worked with the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Offices of the Trust of Public Land LA River Center, Empowerment Congress, Annenberg Foundation with Friends of the Watts Towers and Destination Crenshaw to create sculptures within the community.  I have participated in over 100 professional exhibitions, numerous television shows and have been the subject of various art magazines and newspaper articles."

Charles Dickson

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