Aminah Robinson

Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson (February 18, 1940 – May 22, 2015) was an American artist who represented Black history through art.

Early life and education Robinson was born on February 18, 1940, to Leroy Edward Robinson and Helen Elizabeth Zimmerman-Robinson in Columbus, Ohio. The village was "replete with Black cultural traditions such as storytelling, reverence for elders and promotion of creativity". It was here where she first learnt Black history. Robinson’s Aunt Annie, formerly a slave, taught her about the cruel system of slavery. She was heavily inspired by her parents, Leroy Robinson and Helen Zimmerman-Robinson, who were both artists.

Robinson received her formal art training at the Columbus Art School (now the Columbus College of Art and Design) from 1957–1960. She continued to live and work in Columbus. Then she studied art history and philosophy at Ohio State University (1960 to 1963), Franklin University, and Columbus' Bliss College. Robinson also created colorful sheet music, which has been described as "as beautiful to look at as they are to play." In addition, Robinson illustrated children's books to empower and educate the next generation. She also created RagGonNon's, long pieces of fabric filled with diverse materials. The title RagGonNon alludes to the extreme length; the piece rags on and on. Some took decades to complete; the Water Street RagGonNon took 25 years, it shows African Americans living daily life in downtown Columbus. On her trip to Africa in 1979, Robinson was christened with the name "Aminah" (derived from Aamina, mother of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) by an Egyptian cleric. She changed her name legally to include the forename in 1980. Robinson felt that traveling "enrich[ed] herself and her work". the Tacoma Art Museum, and the Brooklyn Museum. Robinson had been the subject of nearly two hundred solo and group exhibitions before the 2002 retrospective, Symphonic Poem: The Art of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson at the Columbus Museum of Art.

Personal life In 1964, Robinson married Clarence Robinson, later separating in 1971. The couple had a son, Sydney, who died by suicide in 1994.

Death and legacy On May 22, 2015, Robinson died of a heart complication. She left all her belongings to the Columbus Museum of Art. The museum established the "Aminah Robinson Legacy project" to continue to promote her work. As part of the project, the museum transformed her house into a residency area for Black Artists.