Brooklyn Public Library is proud to present the award-winning work of artist, illustrator, and author Bryan Collier, sharing a selection of original artworks from his watershed books All Because You Matter (2020), We Are Here (2023), We Shall Overcome (2021), and Maya’s Song (2022), a celebration of Maya Angelou.
The role and journey of the artist, Collier says, “is to keep moving from one dream to the next,” and certainly his contribution to literature, libraries, schools, and most of all to children is an act of advancing dreams—the intergenerational dreams of justice, entwined with the capacity of art and words to rise above all that must change and to honor all that is worthy of celebration.
Using painting and collage as visual languages that deepen how we relate to each other, Collier has celebrated music, art, and visionary heroes from Rosa Parks, to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; from Trombone Shorty to Booker T. Washington and President Barack Obama. In his life, and his dedication to children and education, he has uplifted Black and Brown children the world over in books such as Hey Black Child (2003) and All Because You Matter (2020). Through his example, dreams are not fleeting aspirations, but chart a course of possibility. Dreams are walked.
About the Artist
Bryan Collier is a beloved illustrator known for his unique style combining watercolor and detailed collage. He is a four-time Caldecott Honor recipient for Trombone Shorty, Dave the Potter, Martin’s Big Words, and Rosa. His books have won many other awards as well, including six Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards. He lives in New York with his family. www.bryancollier.com
Preview the Exhibit
