The Charlotte City Council donated two paintings by local artist Tommie Robinson to the Harvey B. Gantt Center on Monday.
The paintings, each measuring 25 feet by 48 feet, had once adorned an interior wall at the Spectrum Center but were moved to storage during arena renovations. Council members voted unanimously to approve the donations.
Created in 2005, the paintings are titled “Commerce” and “Transportation.”
In a statement to QCity Metro, the Gantt Center said it was honored to receive the artwork.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to add these striking paintings to our growing collection of traditional and contemporary works by African-American artists and artists of African descent,” the statement read. “Tommie Robinson’s art captures the lived experiences of the Black community with authenticity, insight, and emotional depth. His legacy continues to shape and inspire the cultural landscape of our region.”
The city also donated two Paul Sires granite bench sculptures, “Tulip” and “Fallow Gear,” to Mecklenburg County to be placed along the Cross Charlotte Trail.
The city estimated the collective value of the four pieces at $270,000.
The Public Art Commission voted to support the donations during an August 22 meeting.
In 2022, Robinson became the first Black artist whose portrait of a judge — Chief District Judge Hames Lanning — hung in the Mecklenburg County courthouse. He was also the first Black artist in the Guild of Charlotte Artists.
Winston Robinson, the artist’s son, recalled working with his father to create the paintings during his time off from college. The younger Robinson is also pictured in the paintings.
“So, every Bobcats and Hornets game, concerts, I would be intentional, and show people where I was,” he said. “That was always an opportunity to flex.”
