McArthur Freeman

McArthur Freeman is a transdisciplinary visual artist and designer whose body of work is a dynamic fusion of technology and traditional studio art practice. His creative explorations delve into themes of Blackness, social conditioning, and hybridity, employing a diverse array of mediums and techniques. Originally trained in drawing and painting, Freeman has expanded his expertise to include new media disciplines such as animation, digital modeling, 3D scanning, digital fabrication, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.

McArthur Freeman has recently expanded his artistic scope to include significant bronze public art sculptures, notably "An Open Book" completed in 2020 and "West Tampa Stroll," anticipated for early 2025. These pieces, commissioned by Hillsborough County and the West River Development Group in collaboration with the City of Tampa, represent his substantial shift into public art through complex, multi-year projects. Central to his practice are world building and visual storytelling, where he melds historical, contemporary, and fantastical elements to engage in dialogues about Black lives. Freeman's recent role as Animation Director for the film "Murmurs of the River" involved creating a two-minute animated sequence for its introduction, utilizing various animation techniques. This film, exploring themes of race, identity, and memory, underscores his penchant for interdisciplinary and collaborative projects. Additionally, Freeman co-founded "Imagine Blackness," an innovative project merging AI technology with Black speculative storytelling, alongside his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman. This initiative emphasizes their commitment to exploring the intersections of race, technology, art, and social activism. Through his diverse artistic ventures, Freeman's work stands as a powerful conduit for storytelling, education, and cultural reflection, enriching the narrative around the Black experience.

Freeman is the recipient of the prestigious McKnight Junior Faculty Fellowship from the Florida Education Fund and the USF Humanities Institute Faculty Fellowship. His work has been exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions in the United States. He has presented talks at SIGGRAPH Asia, The International Sculpture Conference (ISC), Construct 3D, and The National Council on Education for Ceramic Arts (NCECA), titled “Digital Clay: Hybrid Practices for Digital and Traditional Sculpting”. Freeman’s work has been published in the “Nka Journal of Contemporary African Art.” He earned a BFA in Drawing and Painting from the University of Florida, an MFA from Cornell University with a concentration in Painting, and a Master of Art and Design from North Carolina State University in Animation and New Media.