Inheritance

Imar Hutchins is an artist by birthright who has spent a lifetime collecting his inheritance. By amassing a museum-worthy collection of historic reference documents and tracing family histories towards their origins, he has equipped himself for the self-assigned task to pass learned wisdom along to future generations. This task of an educator is considered a sacred obligation, and it is one that quite literally runs through Imar’s bloodlines. His upcoming solo exhibition, titled Inheritance, fuses his prolific printmaking practice with his signature work as a collagist, imprinting stories recorded in his family archives onto the surfaces of his mixed media portraiture. Each portrait depicts a person of supreme significance, some directly related to Imar by blood and some adopted through a spiritual bond. But, all are uplifted into one visual documentary in recognition of their contributions to the realm of knowledge for the collective benefit of building a unified human family.

– Zoma Wallace, Curator, Inheritance 

Current Exhibition:

Muhammad Ali Center (Louisville, KY)
January 17 – April 19, 2020

The entire Inheritance body of work will be exhibited at the Muhammad Ali Center. It is a celebration of both the 70th Anniversary of Lyman Johnson’s historic UK case and a commemoration of the relationship between Lyman and Ali. Johnson was Ali’s high school civics teacher and Ali credited Johnson as one of his early inspirations towards social activism. The two remained friends throughout lives.

Opening Reception: January 17, 2020 • 6:00-8:00pm

Artist’s Talk: Friday, February 7, 2020 • 6:00-8:00pm 
(Imar in conversation with Bradford Young)

“Lyman T. Johnson & UK” Friday, February 28, 2020 • 6:00-8:00pm 
(Imar in conversation with President Eli Capilouto on the 70th anniversary of University of Kentucky desegregation)

Recent Exhibitions:

Pyramid Atlantic Art Center (Hyattsville, MD)
September 6 – October 13, 2019
Opening Reception: Friday, September 6, 6:30-9:00pm
Artist’s Talk: Friday, September 13, 7:00-8:30pm 
(in conversation with Bradford Young)

Imar is honored to present this exhibition of his work at Pyramid, where he both has a studio and conducts his printmaking practice. Imar looks forward to sharing his current body of work with his fellow artists and with the larger Metro Washington DC community.

University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)
October 11, 2019

Lyman T. Johnson portrait unveiling. To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Lyman T. Johnson’s lawsuit which desegregated of the University of Kentucky, the University has commissioned Imar to create his portrait to mark the occasion. The portrait will reside in a dormitory named in honor of Mr. Johnson. Johnson is not only the first African American student to enroll in the University of Kentucky after a groundbreaking lawsuit argued by Thurgood Marshall, but he is also Imar’s grandfather. Mr. Johnson’s portrait is central to Imar’s upcoming Inheritance exhibition.