McArthur Binion Discusses His Practice and Supporting Artists in Style with L'Officiel
![Portrait of artist McArthur Binion standing in front of a red, green, and purple vertically-striped artwork. He stands with his left side facing the camera, with his left hand in his pants pocket and face turned towards the camera.](https://cranbrookart.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1636668771-mcarthur-binion-image-1-240x300.jpeg)
McArthur Binion
Photography William Jess Laird
Styled by Kimberly Nguyen
McArthur Binion (Painting ’73) talks about his practice and style in a recent feature by L’Officiel. Binion’s recent international successes are described by the author and artists close to him as ‘destiny’ based on his confidence in his work. Abstract paintings with an “underconcious”, as defined by Binion, have been a constant in his practice for decades.
The work of Abstract Expressionist artists, particularly Jasper Johns, were of great inspiration since his first visit to a museum at 19. He was one of the first Black graduates of Cranbrook Academy of Art’s MFA program, studying in the Painting department.
Now, Binion is focused on giving back and supporting other artists in the Midwest, especially our local Detroit area. His foundation, Modern Ancient Brown, benefits Detroit-based artists through grants and seminars, and coming up – a residency program for nine artists. Of his foundation’s work Binion says, ““I want to find the next me. Hopefully lots of them.”