The ArtCentre of Plano and Pencil on Paper Gallery present

Emmanuel Gillespie is a Dallas-based visual artist and educator whose work bridges painting and sculpture to explore history, identity, and the lived Black experience in America. Born and raised in Dallas, Gillespie earned his BFA from the University of North Texas and later completed a Master of Art at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His practice is grounded in scholarship and expressed through both traditional and inventive techniques—seen in series such as Migration and Temporary Freedom, which illuminate stories of struggle, resilience, and triumph, and his more recent Joy series, which expands his exploration of humanity and existence.

Gillespie’s impact also extends into the public realm through notable commissions across North Texas, including site-specific sculptures for the Bexar Street Corridor, design work for a DART Green Line bus station, and major figurative works such as bronze statues of Walter Hagen and Dr. Charles Sifford for Cedar Crest Golf Course. Through studio work, public art, and teaching, Gillespie invites audiences to reflect, connect, and engage in meaningful conversation—offering both artistic excellence and lasting community value.

The ArtCentre of Plano is pleased to present this exhibition in partnership with Pencil on Paper Gallery, and we invite you to experience the work in person.