Turtel Onli (born January 25, 1952 in

Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

) is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

artist, entrepreneur, author,

art therapist Art therapy (not to be confused with ''arts therapy'', which includes other creative therapies such as drama therapy and music therapy) is a distinct discipline that incorporates creative methods of expression through visual art media. Art ther ...

, educator, and publisher. Over Onli's career, his work has touched upon a variety of disciplines in fine and applied visual art, producing works in painting, drawing, illustration, publishing, fashion, and multimedia production. Onli has authored and illustrated numerous

comic books A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

and

graphic novels A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...

, including ''NOG, Protector of the Pyramids, Malcolm 10, Nog Nu and Grammar Patrol.'' He is known as "the Father" of the "Black Age of Comics," a movement dedicated to the promotion, creation, and support of Afrocentric comic books and graphic novels. Onli coined the term "Rhythmism" to define and interpret his stylizations, which fuse primitive and futuristic concepts. A public school art teacher, now retired, Onli worked in the

Chicago Public Schools Chicago Public Schools (CPS), officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, in Chicago, Illinois, is the third-largest school district in the United States, after New York and Los Angeles. ...

for more than two decades.

Biography

Education

Onli graduated from the

School of the Art Institute of Chicago The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is a private art school associated with the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) in Chicago, Illinois. Tracing its history to an art students' cooperative founded in 1866, which grew into the museum and ...

with a

Bachelor of Fine Arts A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students for pursuing a professional education in the visual, fine or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases. Background The Bachelor ...

. He later returned to the Art Institute and earned a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

Art Therapy Art therapy (not to be confused with ''arts therapy'', which includes other creative therapies such as drama therapy and music therapy) is a distinct discipline that incorporates creative methods of expression through visual art media. Art thera ...

. His education includes studies in

Paris, France Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

, at

The Sorbonne Sorbonne may refer to: * Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities. *the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970) *one of its components or linked institution, ...

and the

Centre Georges Pompidou The Centre Pompidou (), more fully the Centre national d'art et de culture Georges-Pompidou ( en, National Georges Pompidou Centre of Art and Culture), also known as the Pompidou Centre in English, is a complex building in the Beaubourg area of ...

Career

In 1970, Onli founded the Black Arts Guild (BAG), which featured touring art exhibitions and published work by its members.Rowland, Debran
"Watermelon? Black artists attack stereotype head-on,"
''Chicago Tribune'' (19 Feb 1991), p. 3. In 1974, in conjunction with BAG, he published ''Funk Book'' and a series of greeting cards. In 1980, he co-published a

zine A zine ( ; short for '' magazine'' or '' fanzine'') is a small-circulation self-published Self-publishing is the publication of media by its author at their own cost, without the involvement of a publisher. The term usually refers to writ ...

called ''PAPER'' with the Osun Center of the Arts. In the early 1980s he created five issues of another early comics zine, ''Future Funk''. Onli's illustration clients include ''

Playboy Magazine ''Playboy'' is an American men's Lifestyle magazine, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from H ...

'', ''

Chicago Magazine ''Chicago'' is a monthly magazine published by Tribune Publishing. It concentrates on lifestyle and human interest stories, and on reviewing restaurants, travel, fashion, and theatre from or nearby Chicago. Its circulation in 2004 was 165,000, ...

'', '' Avant Garde Magazine'', ''

McDonald's McDonald's Corporation is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechri ...

'',

Motown Productions Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

Holt, Rinehart & Winston Holt McDougal is an American publishing company, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, that specializes in textbooks for use in high schools. The Holt name is derived from that of U.S. publisher Henry Holt (1840–1926), co-founder of the e ...

MODE Mode ( la, modus meaning "manner, tune, measure, due measure, rhythm, melody") may refer to: Arts and entertainment * '' MO''D''E (magazine)'', a defunct U.S. women's fashion magazine * ''Mode'' magazine, a fictional fashion magazine which is ...

magazine, and ''Paris Métro'' magazine. His work is in the collections of

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of music ...

Alice Coltrane Alice Coltrane (' McLeod; August 27, 1937January 12, 2007), also known by her adopted Sanskrit name Turiyasangitananda, was an American jazz musician and composer, and in her later years a swamini. An accomplished pianist and one of the few har ...

, the

Chicago Children's Museum The Chicago Children's Museum is located at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1982 by The Junior League of Chicago who were responding to programming cutbacks in the Chicago Public Schools. Originally housed in two hallways of the ...

(''The Rhythmistic Bench''), and

Johnson Publishing Company Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. (JPC) was an American publishing company founded in November 1942 by African-American businessman John H. Johnson. It was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. JPC was privately held and run by Johnson until his d ...

. Onli has been a visiting artist at the

University of Illinois at Chicago The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is a Public university, public research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its campus is in the Near West Side, Chicago, Near West Side community area, adjacent to the Chicago Loop. The second campus esta ...

. In 2005, Onli curated ''"Reverend Phillips and Turtel Onli: An Artistic and Spiritual Legacy,"'' at the Center for the Visual and Performing Arts in

Munster, Indiana Munster is a suburban town in North Township, Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is in the Chicago metropolitan area, approximately southeast of the Chicago Loop, and shares municipal boundaries with Hammond to the north, Highland to th ...

, an exhibition featuring the visionary charts created by his late grandfather, the Rev. Samuel David Phillips, and Onli's own Rhythmistic paintings."Show Work Shows Spiritual Side,"
''The Post-Tribune'' (11 Feb 2005), p. D5. In 2010 he opened the new Onli Studios at the Bridgeport Arts Center in Chicago.

Comics

Throughout his career, Onli has created Afrocentric Rhythmistic-powered characters who tap into humanity’s innate attraction to exaggeration, the supernatural, and pseudo-theological mythology. They represent Onli's belief in the ideal of the powerful defending the weak. He uses the "hero vs. villain" paradigm as his vehicle for reaching beyond “perceived” norms. Onli's character NOG, Nubian of Greatness, one of the earliest Afrocentric comic book characters, was featured in the ''

Chicago Defender ''The Chicago Defender'' is a Chicago-based online African-American newspaper. It was founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott and was once considered the "most important" newspaper of its kind. Abbott's newspaper reported and campaigned against Jim ...

'', starting in 1979, before transitioning to the comic book ''NOG, Protector of the Pyramides'' from 1981-82.Gestalter, Morgan; West, Niles. "Teach for the Stars: Turtel Onli; Art teacher by day, artist by night," ''Chicago Tribune'' (23 Feb 2012), p. 12.Caruthers, Chrystal
"Blacks Bring Own Reality to Comics,"
''Chicago Tribune'' (13 Sep 1993), p. 3. NOG returned in ''NOG is Back!!'' in 1994 and ''Nog Nu!!'' in 2011.

Black Age of Comics

In 1993, Onli spearheaded the inaugural Black Age of ComicsWilliams, L. Pat. "Comic creator crafts Black Age Movement," ''Chicago Defender'' (30 Aug 2003), p. 20. convention at the Southside Community Arts Center in Chicago, where it was held for three consecutive years. Black Age of Comics Conventions have since been held in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, and

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

; with

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

's annual

ECBACC The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (ECBACC) is the Philadelphia region's first black comic book convention, bringing together hundreds of comic book, science fiction, and fantasy creators, their colleagues, and their fans. The ECBACC is ...

being the most prominent. Other recent Black Age of Comics conventions were held in Chicago's Bridgeport Arts Center and

Kenwood Academy Kenwood Academy (also known as Kenwood Academy High School and formerly known as Kenwood High School) is a comprehensive public high school and magnet middle school located in the Hyde Park– Kenwood neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Il ...

Educator

From 1984 to 1989 Onli worked as an

with young people in Chicago's

Robert Taylor Homes Robert Taylor Homes was a public housing project in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois from 1962 to 2007. The largest housing project in the United States, it consisted of 28 virtually identical high-rises, set ...

. Onli worked as an art instructor in the Chicago Public Schools. Onli has taught at

Columbia College Chicago Columbia College Chicago is a Private college, private art college in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1890, it has 5,928https://about.colum.edu/effectiveness/pdf/spring-2021-student-profile.pdf students pursuing degrees in more than 60 undergra ...

, and is currently an adjunct professor of Art Appreciation & Drawing at

Harold Washington College Harold Washington College is a community college, part of the City Colleges of Chicago system of the City of Chicago, in Illinois, United States. It is located in the downtown "Loop" area of the City, near the series of parks along the lakefro ...

. Onli is also the Founder of B.A.G the Black Arts Guild where his “Rhythmistic” style and approach provides a futuristic think tank for young emerging artist to evolve in various mediums.

Honors and awards

* 2006:

Glyph Comics Awards The Glyph Comics Awards is for the best comics made by people of color from the last calendar year. The goal is to award the People of Color for their awesome work in the comics industry and also to inspire young writers from diverse backgrounds t ...

Pioneer Award — for bringing positive, diverse images to the world of graphic novels and comic books

Work

Bibliography

* ''NOG: Protector of the Pyramides'' (self-published, 1981–1982) * ''Future Funk'' (BAG, 1980s) * ''Malcolm 10'' (self-published, 1992) * ''Sustah-Girl'' (Castel Publications, 1993) — with Cassandra Washington * ''Grammar Patrol'' (Castel Publications, 1994) — with Cassandra Washington * ''Nog is Back'' (self-published, 1994) * ''The Origins of Team Blanga: Heroes of the Black Age'' (Onli Studios, 2007) — includes an original CD soundtrack by Hardy Headz * ''Let's Go Green in the City'' (Onli Studios, 2008) * ''Sasa'' (Onli Studios, 2010) * ''Nog Nu!!'' (Onli Studios, 2011) * ''East/West Zodiac & Journal'' (Onli Studios) — with Kocao Winbush * ''The Legend of the AZANIAC''

Exhibitions

* 1977: Second World Festival of Black and African Art and Culture (FESTAC) (

Lagos, Nigeria Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 fo ...

) — group show * 1991: Prairie Avenue Gallery (Chicago, Illinois) — ''"The Return of Watermelon: The Redefining of a Stereotype"'' — group show * 2001: The African American Cultural Center (Chicago) * 2005: Center for the Visual and Performing Arts (

) — ''“Reverend Phillips and Turtel Onli: An Artistic and Spiritual Legacy”'' * 2007: " Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet Chicago" group show — ''"It'z A Rhythmsitic World." Never Boring!!!“'' * 2011:

Tubman African American Museum The Tubman Museum, formerly known as the "Tubman African American Museum", is located in Macon, Georgia, USA. It is located in the city's museum district near the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. History Location F ...

(Macon, Georgia) — ''"Afro Futurism in the Visual Arts"'' — group show * 2011: ETA Creative Arts Foundation (Chicago) — ''“Passion Fruit: The Other Chicago Black Movement”'' — solo exhibition * 2013:

DuSable Museum of African American History The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, formerly the DuSable Museum of African American History, is a museum in Chicago that is dedicated to the study and conservation of African-American history, culture, and art. It was founded i ...

(Chicago) — ''"AFRICOBRA: Art and Impact"'' — group show * 2015:

Harold Washington Library Center The Harold Washington Library Center is the central library for the Chicago Public Library System. It is located just south of the Loop 'L', at 400 S. State Street in Chicago, in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is a full-service library and is A ...

(Chicago) — ''Rhythmistic Journey: The Art Enterprises of Turtel Onli'' * 2020: Hyde Park Arts Center (Chicago) ''"Rhythmistic Residency"'' "HPAC JULY 2020"
/ref>

References

Notes

Sources consulted

* ''Chicago Sun-Times'' (Apr. 17, 1981). * Lacher, Irene

''Chicago Sun-Times'' (28 Nov 1993), p. 18. * ''Wisconsin State Journal'' (Jan. 31, 1994). * Irvine, Martha. "Giving drawing power to black heroes: A handful of artists, some self-published, cross racial-ethnic lines in comic books," ''Associated Press'' (07 Sept. 1999). * Jennings, John and Duffy, Damian, curators. ''Other Heroes: African American Comic Book Characters and Archetypes'' (art exhibition catalog), (Other Heroes, 2007). * Onli, Turtel
"The Black Age of Comics 101: A Brief History by a Founder,"
''Chicago Art Magazine'' (Oct 15, 2010). * Richardson, Clem. "Super Heroic Fest Will Highlight African-American Comic Book Pioneers," ''New York Daily News'' (10 Jan 2013), p. 39.

External links

*
Onli website

"The Art of Turtel Onli,"
Onli's blog

Lambiek Comiclopedia. Accessed May 20, 2013.
Onli profile
PocketCon 2013 official website. Accessed May 20, 2013.

ArtFacts.net

African American Cultural Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Cool Globes Public Art Exhibition

The Black Age of Comics
website
“Rhythmistic Residency #1 HPAC July 22nd 2020"
Rhythmistic Residency Vimeo
Hyde Park Arts Center Residency
HPA.ORG official website. Accessed July 2020.
"Rhythmistic Residency #2 HPAC July 29th 2020"
Rhythmistic Residency Vimeo {{DEFAULTSORT:Onli, Turtel African-American comics creators American comics creators American comics artists Living people 1952 births Artists from Chicago 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American people