County of Kent issued the following announcement on Feb 15.
Paul Collins is an award winning artist originally from Muskegon and raised in Grand Rapids. In 1975, Collins was commissioned to create a mural of President Gerald R. Ford, making him the first Black man to paint a sitting president. The mural is exhibited at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
Among other notables works, he started a collection in 1979 titled "Contributions to the History of the United States of America." The series showcases individuals such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Rosa Parks symbolizing historic moments of the shaping of the United States. His painting depicting "Harriet Tubman’s Underground Railroad" has become a national icon. The image is used in history books and museums all over the country.
Pieces of Paul Collins' collections are on permanent display at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
Original source can be found here.
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