Bernard Collins, Jr.

Bernard Collins, Jr. is a visual artist, muralist, and spoken word artist with a BFA from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and an MFA from University of Pennsylvania. In 2018, he received a fellowship in painting at Fleisher Art Memorial, resulting in a one-man show of his work. In March 2023, his work was featured in shows at Rutgers University and the Allen’s Lane Art Center. His Poetic Playground series, which featured live painting, spoken word, and music, was performed several times at Fleisher Art Memorial, and with the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble in 2023. Collins, Jr. was also a featured spoken-word artist on the Sun Ra Mixtape, and a featured visual artist and designer on the Jazz Illustrated history book project.

Collins, Jr. has collaborated with choreographers, hip hop artists, dancers, and musicians to create new original work throughout the years and to this day. In addition to teaching artists of all ages for over two decades at Fleisher Art Memorial, he exhibits and performs regularly throughout the tri-state area. He lives with his wife Tamika and his two children Lily and Layla. “As artists, I feel each painting/sculpture/work of music is an opportunity to call attention to the beauty, brilliance, and complexity of the world around us, and our potential as people to be beautiful as well.”