Dare Coulter, a talented artist based in Triangle, won the prestigious Coretta Scott King Award for 2024, making waves with her exceptional illustrations. The 30-year-old artist received the award for her illustrations in Kwame Alexander's "An American Story." 

Depicting Slavery and Triumph Through Art

"An American Story" explores the challenging topic of slavery. The book honors the resilience of the African American community. It reflects on the history of slavery while looking into the future. Coulter's artistic approach seeks to highlight hope in the face of darkness and portray the strength of enslaved Americans. Alexander's work, featured in the New York Times Book Review's "Best Children's Books of 2023," adds to the significance of this masterpiece.

LaKeshia Darden, the chair of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Jury, praises Coulter's work, emphasizing how her illustrations beautifully and authentically depict the American story of Black people - a narrative marked by tragedy yet triumphant in its essence.

Coulter employs a masterful combination of mixed media, illustrations, and clay figures to vividly distinguish the narratives of slavery and the contemporary reactions of children learning about this history.

Speaking with INDY after her win, Coulter shared that her main goal is to connect with the Black community through her work. Winning the award was a testament to the fact that she produced something culturally important for Black people. This endeavor filled her with immense honor. 

When asked about the creative process of designing the book, Coulter stated that she wanted to highlight the humanity of those who were enslaved against a background of tough themes of severe abuse. She purposely included moments of Black joy, resisting the urge to focus solely on the painful aspects. Representation of Blackness often faces debates, but Coulter strives to avoid portraying it in a negative light.

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Beyond Award-Winning Illustrations

Coulter's artistic prowess extends beyond this award-winning project. She contributed a remarkable 200-ft mural in Greensboro, celebrating often-overlooked Black cowboys. In 2016, Coulter was commissioned by the African American Heritage Commission of North Carolina to create illustrations for Michelle Lanier's 'My N.C. from A to Z.' With each letter of the alphabet, the book features a place or person that has significance in North Carolina's culture and art. 

Coulter collaborated with The National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2018. The fundraising project was established to restore Nina Simone's childhood home. Coulter created an artwork for the fundraising campaign. The image was showcased at the Essence Festival and is now featured on campaign merchandise.  

While a graduate of NC State, Coulter attributes her artistic development to Meredith College's art program, showcasing the influence of her educational journey on her flourishing career.

Coulter expressed her eagerness to see what opportunities arise from this award. Three big art projects are coming up for Coulter: one at Wheels Fun Park in Durham and two in Raleigh. She will also illustrate Jessica Care Moore's book about Ketanji Brown Jackson. Another collaboration project with Alexander is also happening this year. 

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