Keith was born and raised in Flint, Michigan where my dad “CL” & mom “Eleanor” taught him he could be whatever he wanted to be. Keith chose art over engineering for General Motors. As a youngster, he attended the Flint Institute of Art. In 1971 Keith was accepted into the Genesee Area Skill Center’s “Gifted Artist” program. After graduating both high school & the Skill Center, he attended the American Academy of Art, Chicago and graduated in1976 with a degree in Design & Illustration.
Keith worked as a science illustrator for Denoyer-Gepprert Co. (Times Mirror) where he produced science charts & filmstrips for the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia. Also he free-lanced with World Book & Encyclopedia Britannica and worked on calendar projects for Miller Brewing Co. & Luster Products Inc. Keith created 28 Black History Illustrations that aired daily on WGN-TV as public service announcements during Black History Month “Black History Notes” for several years and later 28 more “Black History Moments” Illustrations for Central City-Chicago Tribune Productions that aired each day on WGN channel 9 for years during February narrated by TV stars Ted Lange, Blair Underwood, Lou Rawls, Roxie Roker, Holly Robinson Peete, Montell Williams, Sheri Belafonte, Nichelle Nichols & many others. Currently featured works for African American Expressions 2014 Calendar’s “Walking by Faith” & “Make Me Mold Me” also featured in “Sunday Morning” 2015, also 2020 Maya Angelou through 2024 calendars and greeting card publications.
His artwork has been exhibited in many Galleries and shows including Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry, Dusable Museum of African American history, Black Ensemble Theater, Solo Show ETA Theater, Gallery D’Estee, Gallery Guichard, South Side Community Art Center, Gorgeous Gallery, Chicago Cultural Center, Nicole Gallery, Tall Grass of Park Forest & Ohare Airport. Most recently Essence Festival New Orleans, Washington DC & The Tom Joyner Foundation Cruise. His work can be found in collections of notables across the country.
African American Arts Alliance of Chicago 2011
“Black Excellence” (Artist of the Year) Award for Visual Arts.
First Place Winner of Dusalble Museum’s 2011 “Back to Our Roots” 37th annual Arts Festival.
First Place 2013 Best Window Exhibit at Urban Partners Bank
Selected By The South Shore Chamber Of Commerce.
2016 a featured artist on the Tom Joyner Foundation’s Fantastic Voyage Cruise benifit for
Historical Black Colleges & Universities also Art Basel Miami
2017 Solo Art Exhibition at Black Ensemble Theater “The Josephine Baker Story”
2018 Solo Art Exhibition at Black Ensemble Theater “Rick Stone Blues Man”
2018-2019 Solo Art Exhibition at Black Ensemble Theater “Women of Soul”
2019 KC Art featured on Comedy Centrals TV show “South Side”
2021 Museum of Science & Industry Chicago Black Creativity "Freedom Trail"
2024 Museum of Science & Industry Chicago Black Creativity "James Baldwin at St. Germaine Paris"
“I started Painting for my own personal enjoyment and to make a positive contribution to African Americans and to society as a whole by creating art that is inspirational & sensational. My art is designed to make you feel a sense of pride as it has historical and or cultural significance. I like to create art of people and images to inspire individuals that they can overcome obstacles to became successful against the odds."
“I love art and have been an artist my whole life. I believe art has given culture to the world. I take great pride in being included in the process of telling humanities story and progress in a positive way using color & imagination.”
Keith David Conner
Keith worked as a science illustrator for Denoyer-Gepprert Co. (Times Mirror) where he produced science charts & filmstrips for the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia. Also he free-lanced with World Book & Encyclopedia Britannica and worked on calendar projects for Miller Brewing Co. & Luster Products Inc. Keith created 28 Black History Illustrations that aired daily on WGN-TV as public service announcements during Black History Month “Black History Notes” for several years and later 28 more “Black History Moments” Illustrations for Central City-Chicago Tribune Productions that aired each day on WGN channel 9 for years during February narrated by TV stars Ted Lange, Blair Underwood, Lou Rawls, Roxie Roker, Holly Robinson Peete, Montell Williams, Sheri Belafonte, Nichelle Nichols & many others. Currently featured works for African American Expressions 2014 Calendar’s “Walking by Faith” & “Make Me Mold Me” also featured in “Sunday Morning” 2015, also 2020 Maya Angelou through 2024 calendars and greeting card publications.
His artwork has been exhibited in many Galleries and shows including Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry, Dusable Museum of African American history, Black Ensemble Theater, Solo Show ETA Theater, Gallery D’Estee, Gallery Guichard, South Side Community Art Center, Gorgeous Gallery, Chicago Cultural Center, Nicole Gallery, Tall Grass of Park Forest & Ohare Airport. Most recently Essence Festival New Orleans, Washington DC & The Tom Joyner Foundation Cruise. His work can be found in collections of notables across the country.
African American Arts Alliance of Chicago 2011
“Black Excellence” (Artist of the Year) Award for Visual Arts.
First Place Winner of Dusalble Museum’s 2011 “Back to Our Roots” 37th annual Arts Festival.
First Place 2013 Best Window Exhibit at Urban Partners Bank
Selected By The South Shore Chamber Of Commerce.
2016 a featured artist on the Tom Joyner Foundation’s Fantastic Voyage Cruise benifit for
Historical Black Colleges & Universities also Art Basel Miami
2017 Solo Art Exhibition at Black Ensemble Theater “The Josephine Baker Story”
2018 Solo Art Exhibition at Black Ensemble Theater “Rick Stone Blues Man”
2018-2019 Solo Art Exhibition at Black Ensemble Theater “Women of Soul”
2019 KC Art featured on Comedy Centrals TV show “South Side”
2021 Museum of Science & Industry Chicago Black Creativity "Freedom Trail"
2024 Museum of Science & Industry Chicago Black Creativity "James Baldwin at St. Germaine Paris"
“I started Painting for my own personal enjoyment and to make a positive contribution to African Americans and to society as a whole by creating art that is inspirational & sensational. My art is designed to make you feel a sense of pride as it has historical and or cultural significance. I like to create art of people and images to inspire individuals that they can overcome obstacles to became successful against the odds."
“I love art and have been an artist my whole life. I believe art has given culture to the world. I take great pride in being included in the process of telling humanities story and progress in a positive way using color & imagination.”
Keith David Conner