Joy Cometh in the Morning: A Celebration of Artistic Practice

Joy Cometh in the Morning celebrates the work of Ligel Lambert, a doctoral candidate at Teachers College, Columbia University, and features paintings from his Black Male Artist Professor Series, which explores leadership and access. About Please join us for the opening of Joy Cometh in the Morning: A Celebration of Artistic Practice, an exhibition that showcases the work of Ligel Lambert, a doctoral candidate in the Art & Art Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. The paintings on display are part of Ligel Lambert's Black Male Artist Professor Series , a body of work that explores themes of celebration, leadership, access, and collaboration within the context of Black male artist-professors in higher education. Portraits of David Driskell, Nick Cave, and Glenn Ligon were created with generous support from the Myers Foundations and the Gottesman Libraries' Commissioned Art Program. Paintings by Ligel Lambert of Stanley Whitey, Imo Nse Imeh, and Larry Walker will also be shown, with a gallery book display by and about these influential artists, in addition to other books that illuminate Fauvism and geometric abstraction in art. Introduction / Artist Statement "My work inhabits the space where identity, sound, and visual expression converge. In The Inspirational Artist Professor Series, I honor artist professors whose vision, creativity, and dedication have shaped the art world and higher education. Through portraiture, I elevate their presence, mentorship, and leadership within academic and artistic communities, offering a reflection on visibility, influence, and legacy. I am also drawn to resonance—in the portraits I create, the sounds we visualize, and the lives we honor. Whether through portraiture or visualized sound, my art seeks to capture the unseen sounds & rhythms of human experience, revealing how creativity, mentorship, and expression shape the spaces we inhabit and the communities we build." –Ligel Lambert Biography Ligel Lambert is an interdisciplinary & multimedia artist, designer, academic, and entrepreneur whose creative practice spans painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, assemblage, and sculpture. He is an adjunct professor at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design and an adjunct lecturer at Hunter College in New York City. Originally from Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, Ligel became a U.S. citizen in 2003 while honorably serving in the United States Marine Corps from December 2000 to December 2004. His global experiences—living and working in Japan, South Korea, China, and the U.S.—inform his artistic approach. He holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art and Painting from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University in Melbourne, Australia (2013), an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of West Florida (2021), and a BFA in Graphic Design (2011). Ligel has collaborated with artists such as Wycliffe Gordon, Howard R. Paul, and Bob James, and his work has been exhibited locally and internationally. His artwork is included in private and public collections, including RMIT University, the Tisdell Cottage Foundation, the Coastal Jazz Association, the City of Jacksonville, and the personal collections of Wycliffe Gordon and Kasseem Dean (Swizz Beatz). He is a doctoral candidate at Columbia University’s Teachers College and resides in New York City. Members and affiliated members of Teachers College may use the registration button below. Persons not affiliated with Teachers College, Columbia University may register with their interest and details via library support ( Ask a Librarian ) so that a confirmation e-mail can then be sent. Refreshments will be served. Where: 305 Russell / Offit Gallery. Note: The Artist Talk will begin at 6 pm and conclude at 6:30 pm. Poster Image from Original Artwork, Courtesy of Ligel Lambert: A Symbolic Representation of David C. Driskell Casein, acrylic, India ink, paper, cloth, and gold leaf on premium wooden panel 36" x 48" 2026 Read more Toggle Painting Mixed media