Curtis McNair, Artist
Curtis McNair is best known for his work with the Motown Recording Corporation. He worked with Motown from 1968 to 1972 during the apex years for the label. Curtis designed some of the most famous album covers in the history of Motown during this period. Entertainers such as Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops and Marvin Gaye were among the many famous recording artists with whom he collaborated to produce those oh so familiar album covers.
Art has been a part of Curtis' life from a very young age. He received an art scholarship while in high school to attend the now notable Center for Creative Studies where he later graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Fine Arts. Before entering the work world, Curtis took advantage of his brief military tour of duty in Europe by visiting some of the most famous art museums in the world, including the Louvre in France and the Sistine Chapel in Italy.
Most of his professional life was spent as a commercial artist working with Federals Department Store, Chrysler Corporation and the City Detroit. He also opened his own printing business, Gott Graphics & Printing Company, and his own privately funded art school, Detroit Contemporary School of Art, all before moving to North Carolina.
His move to Carolina led him into the classrooms of Richmond County Schools where his art skills were tried by fire in the classrooms of 3rd to 8th graders. He retired from the school system in 1997.
He has continued to fine tune his artistic craft to become an outstanding painter. He has shown his work in smaller venues and art galleries in Detroit, Michigan, and several locations in North Carolina, including Fayetteville, Laurinburg, Rockingham, Wadesboro, and Monroe.
While McNair has received numerous awards and prizes for his art work, he still considers himself to be an artist in transition. He says, "I am now more interested in staying free and developing my talents to reach an even greater potential."