Bob Ragland

Bob Ragland (December 11, 1938 – April 10, 2021) was an artist and teacher based in Denver, Colorado. He is best known for his oil paintings and his found object sculptures, as well as his practical "Non-Starving Artist" philosophy. The Bob Ragland Branch of the Denver Public Library is named in his honor.

Early life and education Robert L. "Bob" Ragland was born in 1938 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Carey and Violet Ragland. His parents were from Georgia and Alabama, respectively, and had moved north during the Great Migration. He made cartoons, jewelry, and more, but he is perhaps best known for his oil on masonite panels and sculptures using found objects. President Jimmy Carter and Colorado Lt. Gov. George L. Brown were among those who commissioned pieces by Ragland throughout his career. He also taught at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, George Washington High School, and Bradley Elementary.

Ragland was involved in community activism in his Denver neighborhood, particularly in the 1960s and '70s, when he was active with the East Side Action Center.

Personal life, death, and legacy Bob Ragland and his wife had three sons and several grandchildren.

Ragland died in April 2021 at the age of 82. A frequent Denver Public Library user, he was selected the following year as the namesake for the new Bob Ragland Branch Library, which has a focus on community arts. A portrait of Ragland by fellow artist and friend Dean Mitchell has been displayed at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.