Name: John Hairston Jr.
Title: Assistant Professor of Design, Illustration
Education: M.F.A., Illustration, University of Hartford
B.F.A., University of North Carolina Charlotte
Office: 331 McLaurin Hall
Phone: 803/323-2660
E-mail: hairstonj@winthrop.edu
Web: allcitystudios.com/home
Area(s): Illustration, Multimedia
John Hairston Jr. has been an artist for as long as he can remember. A North Carolina native, he created art before he could read or write. Throughout his grade school years, he spent the majority of his time drawing superheroes and listening to any old soul or Hip Hop records he could get his hands on. Little did he know that his love for all things spandex-clad and funky would play such a major role in his development as an artist. Under the guidance of his high school mentors and college professors, he learned to tap into these components to create a style of artwork that seamlessly blends political satire, social commentary and obscure pop-culture references. Hairston graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration and began his career as a professional artist illustrating storyboards for a string of independent films and several television ads. He has done commissioned pieces for numerous art collectors and various non-profit organizations. Hairston's work is currently on display in various art galleries all over the United States and Beyond!
Hairston's work mixes street art and expressionist sensibilities, with lively colors that result in a unique aesthetic. Clients include but are not limited to: ACC Network, Raycom Sports, the NBA, the NFL, the NCAA, The Wu-Tang, Del The Funky Homosapien, Earthgang, and the Grammy award nominated children's album “The Perfect Quirk” by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. He won the Charlotte Shout! Poster Contest in 2018 and the Midsouth Regional Emmy in 2015.
