Akili Ron Anderson is a lifetime resident of Washington, DC, born February 19, 1946, to Russell Anderson and Frances Holmes Anderson. He has successfully practiced as a full time visual artist since 1970. Mr. Anderson creates art for the visual enhancement needs of cultural, religious and public institutions. He designs, fabricates and installs stained glass windows, sculptural forms, fine art paintings and theater sets. Mr. Anderson is also well versed in still photography, cinematography, computer graphics, special effects and multi-media presentations.


Mr. Anderson graduated from Cardozo High School in 1964. He attended The Corcoran School of Art (1964-1965) and Howard University, School of Arts and Science, Division of Fine Arts (1965-1969) and (2005-2008). He received his BFA and MFA from Howard University in 2008.


Mr. Anderson held the position of Artist in Residence for the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities (1971-1973). He was the first chairperson of the Visual Arts Department at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (Washington, DC 1974-1976). Mr. Anderson is a co-founder of NationHouse Organization (Watoto School) and a board member of the African Freedom Fund Treasury and Black Artists of DC. Mr. Anderson is presently teaching full time in the Department of Art at Howard University.

Mr. Anderson's one-man exhibits include Duke University (Durham NC, 1968), the Corcoran Gallery of Art (Washington, DC, 1973), the Howard University Gallery of Fine Arts (Washington DC, 1973), the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corp. (New York City, NY, 1975), the Weusi Gallery (New York City, NY, 1975), the Miya gallery (Washington, DC, 1976),The New Muse (Brooklyn, NY, 1977) and Hampton University Museum, July 9, - November 18, 2016.


Mr. Anderson has designed theater sets in Washington, DC for the Ira Aldridge Theater at Howard University (1969), the Kennedy Center, Eisenhower Theater (1975) and The DC Black Repertory Theater Company (1974 and 1975).

Mr. Anderson was chosen to exhibit his artwork, and perform as a member of “Nation-African Liberation Arts Ensemble”, at the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in Lagos, Nigeria (1977). Mr. Anderson has exhibited nationally and internationally in group shows, primarily as a member of the "AfriCOBRA" artist collective. He has been a member of the AfriCOBRA group since 1979.


Mr. Anderson has received Public Art contracts with the following institutions:

 Stained Glass

•John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church,

 Washington, DC (1980) and (1985)

•Saint Augustine Catholic Church

 Washington, DC (1990)

•Union Temple Baptist Church

 Washington, DC (1992)

•Howard University Rankin Chapel, Centennial Window

 Washington, DC (1995)

•Saint Paul United Methodist Church

 Oxon Hill, MD, (1996)

•Asbury United Methodist Church

 Washington, DC (1998)

•Columbia Heights Metro Station
 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
 Washington, DC (2002)

•Prince George's County Courthouse, Duvall Wing,
 Upper Marlboro, Maryland (2009)

•Rankin Chapel, Howard University, 
 Delta Sigma Theta Centennial Window (2013)
 Washington, DC
 


Sculpture

 •New Home Baptist Church, Washington, DC (1982)

 •C & P Telephone Company, Washington, DC (1977 and 1979)

 •Southern District Police Station, Baltimore MD., (1986)