Milton Bowens

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Milton is the fifth boy of ten children. He began his formal art training at the Renaissance Art School in Oakland, CA during his Junior and Senior High School years. On completion of high school, Milton was awarded a scholarship to attend the California College of Arts and Crafts; after one-year of studies, Milton enlisted in the United States Armed Forces and became an Illustrator. He received his Associates Degree in Commercial Art under the Army’s College Education Assistance Program (ACE). Milton continued his education in the Arts, attending both Austin Peay State University, TN and Fayetteville State University, NC while serving his tour of duty in the military. During this time, Milton’s work was collected by two of the military’s most prestigious museums; The John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and The Don F. Pratt Memorial Museum, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After serving his tour of duty, Milton returned to the Bay Area and continued his education under the mentorship of fine artist, David Bradford, head of the Art department as well as an instructor at Laney College, Oakland, California. Inspired by great artists such as, Jean Michel Basquiat, Robert Rauschenberg, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence and Andy Warhol, Milton changed his focus from illustration to fine art, and has become not only a great artist in his own right but a very powerful public speaker and community activist. In the fight to keep ART a vital part of public education and a tool to help rebuild self-esteem in all youth Milton, has diligently and tirelessly created exhibitions that try to bring about a level of civility to a community in need of inspiration. Although Milton has accomplished much in his brief art career, he still considers himself to be ever expanding in the quest for knowledge, technique and understanding of art and how it plays a role in the preservation of the African American culture.