Robert L. Newman III is a self-taught Black American multidisciplinary artist, best known for his expressionist portraits. Currently living and working in Harlem, New York, Newman's work primarily follows and examines the narrative of Black Folks through a post-Civil War Reconstruction era lens. Newman's artistic journey began in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the window of his grandmother's doll store. Since then, Newman has traveled and lived throughout the United States with a significant amount of his time situated in what is known as the "Jim Crow South";Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee and Georgia. Newman utilizes his intimate and life-long experiences within Black culture to showcase the continued liberation efforts of Black Folks in America, evoking and honoring his ancestors throughout each piece he creates.

In his words:

"Drawing and painting have always been my first loves, but in my growth as an artist, I have become more interested in fashion, photography, curating and writing. Much of my work is still influenced by my grandmother. She was my first teacher. I have since had the opportunity to study at Morehouse College, a historically Black college in Atlanta GA and the alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Because of this, my work is in constant conversation with my community. I seek to create work that represents my peers and neighbors in the way I see them [and they see themselves]. My hope is that through this process of storytelling, I can facilitate healing and growth for Black folks in American who have lived with and for some through the generational trauma of slavery and oppression.”
Robert L. Newman III