Who are Glenda & Milton Boone?

Well-known by African American Artists in the visual arts industry as “Madam General,” Glenda Boone, a marketer, consultant and public speaker, has paved the way for many, now internationally acclaimed African American Fine Artists.

Glenda first established herself as an Art Consultant with an In Home Art Show Company in 1991 by which she received several awards for her outstanding leadership abilities for producing over $500,000 in sales and establishing a nationwide sales network of more than 200 individuals her very first year in the visual art sales industry.

Glenda thought she had found a company and a career that would last a lifetime. However, in 1993, while attending the New York Black Art Expo, she had the opportunity to meet Mr. Larry Poncho Brown, who enlightened her with the fact that the company by which she was working was plagiarizing the works of African American Visual Artists. After conducting further research, Glenda verified Mr. Brown ’s accusations and found his claims to be true. She learned that large publishing houses were duplicating artist ’s works and transferring their images onto canvas in an effort to avoid purchasing the images directly from African-American Artists. Glenda realized that in order for consumers to be aware of what was happening in the industry, someone had to take the responsibility of educating the public.Hence, in 1994, after much prayer and with the blessings of her husband, Milton, Glenda stepped out on faith, invested their entire savings, and created Black Heritage Visual Arts Marketing Corporation.

With the assistance of six colleagues, Glenda and Milton set about their mission of “Educating first and selling artwork second,” by literally going in the homes of residents residing in the Baltimore and Washington, DC areas. After 2 months, they both quickly realized that they needed the support of those by which the injustice was being directed.They than began a telephone campaign reaching out to many nationally acclaimed artists. Mr.Albert Fennell, Mr.Tim Hinton, and Mr.Tom McKinney came to their rescue and began to support their efforts by attending shows, workshops, lectures and offering their works to the public through her company.

Within one year, Milton & Glenda developed a network of more than 40 artists and in 1995, they held their first Public Black Heritage Art Show in Baltimore,Maryland.They then began traveling the country training art consultants, educating the public, and providing resources and consulting services for African American Artists. They have helped create job opportunities for individuals who desired to work as professional art consultants on behalf of international acclaimed artists.Their efforts did not go unnoticed, as their agency began to emerge and consumers became wiser, those large publishing houses that once refused to pay African American Artists for their creativity, had no other alternative but to conduct business with African American Artists directly if they wanted to continue to sell to African American consumers.Milton &Glenda feel this is one of their agency’s greatest accomplishments.

Milton & Glenda have helped artists gain international, regional and local exposure. They have helped launch the careers of several visual artists including Ted T. Ellis, one of the country’s youngest international acclaimed African American visual artists today,he is one of the most sought after artist from giant corporations, including Walt Disney World, the US military and Avon products.Because of its proven track record, Black Heritage Visual Arts marketing, has become one of the most sought after and respected African American artist representative agencies in the country. Further, the annual Black Heritage Art Show, held during the month of February in Baltimore, Maryland, has been rated as one of the best African American Fine Art shows in the United States,attracting more than 40,000 attendees.

In an effort for mainstream art galleries, organizations and corporations to recognize the achievements of African American Artists, Milton & Glenda established the annual Heritage Awards Ceremony in 1996. Today, The Heritage awards ceremony remains to serve as the only nationally exposed African American visual artist awards recognition program. The Heritage award is recognized in the African American Visual Arts Industry much like the Oscar is to movies,or the Grammy is to music. Since the birth of the Annual Heritage Awards Ceremony, several organizations have begun to recognize the accomplishments of African American Artists.