Andre Rochester is a Fine Artist, Curator, and Arts Advocate from the Greater Hartford region of Connecticut. Andre studied illustration at the University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts and completed his BA in Studio Art at Charter Oak State College. Andre’s artwork makes statements for which words may not be enough, highlighting underlying emotions connected to his subjects. It is a combination of portraiture and conceptual works linked by narratives of his own experiences. His art is a tool for healing and a catalyst for connection-letting people know they are not alone.
Andre is the Program Manager at The 224 EcoSpace, where he curates exhibits and oversees execution of arts events and programs, including the Artists of Color Accelerate Fellowship. He is also the Art Curator at UConn Health Center, responsible for managing and expanding a collection of over 2500 works of art across multiple facilities and organizing exhibits in the Celeste LeWitt Gallery . Andre also coaches emerging artists, encouraging them to develop their craft with a focus on professionalism and business acumen. He believes that with every step forward, we must make room for others to join us. Learn more about Andre’s coaching and consulting at www.rochestercoaching.com.
Fellowships/Residencies
2022-23 | National Leaders of Color Fellowship- New England Foundation for The Arts
2022 | New Voices Fellowship (for Arts Administrators)- Greater Hartford Arts Council
2021-22 | Artist of Color Accelerate (AOCA) Fellowship Cohort 1- The 224 EcoSpace
2021 | Quest Program- Leadership Greater Hartford
Notable Collections
Hartford Healthcare
Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center- New Haven, CT
Catholic Charities- Arch Diocese of Hartford, CT
Manchester Community College
City of Hartford, CT
Hartford Public Library
Notable Commissions
2020 | End Racism Now Street Mural (Letter “O”)- Windsor Public Library, Windsor, CT
2020 | Black Lives Matter Street Mural (2nd Letter “T” in MatTer)- Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT
2019 | Welcoming The Stranger- Catholic Charities Refugee Program, Hartford, CT
2018 | Portrait of Butch Lewis (Founder- Black Panther Party for Self Defense, Hartford Chapter)- Hartford History Center, Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT
2015 | Commemorative Painting- Minority Caucus at Manchester Community College, Manchester, CT
Notable Memberships
2024 - Present | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art ( Ex Officio Trustee- Liaison to City of Hartford)
2023 - Present | Hartford Art School Endowment, Inc. (Board Corporator)- West Hartford, CT
2023 - 2024 | Wethersfield Academy for The Arts (Board Member)- Wethersfield, CT
2023 - 2024 | Wadsworth Atheneum (Wadsworth Community Council/Education Committee), Hartford, CT
2022- 2024 | Connecticut Arts Alliance (Board Member) - Statewide, CT
2022 - 2023 Wadsworth Atheneum (Board Elector/Education Committee) - Hartford, CT
2021 - 2023 | Black Dimensions in Art (Board Member) - Greater Albany, NY
2019 - 2023 | Windsor Art Center Board of Directors (Vice President, Curatorial Chair, Development Chair) - Windsor, CT
2014 - 2015 | City of Hartford Commission on Cultural Affairs - Hartford, CT
Awards/Honors
2024 | Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award- State of Connecticut
2024 | Community Impact Award- My People Community Services
2024 | Spirit of Juneteenth Award- Amistad Center for Art and Culture at Wadsworth Atheneum- Hartford, CT
2024 | Celebration of Leadership Honoree- New England Foundation for The Arts- Boston, MA
2023 | Art in Bloom Award- Windsor Art Center- Windsor, CT
2022 | Our Piece of the Pie® Inc. Champions of Youth Alumni Recognition Award- Hartford, CT
2022 | Official Proclamation from Mayor Luke Bronin, City of Hartford- Hartford, CT
2015 | One Hundred Men of Color- Hartford, CT
Selected Exhibitions
2024 | AEmpire- Artspace Hartford- Hartford, CT
2024 | Resilience- The Garde Arts Center- New London, CT
2024 | Art for Healing (Curator)- The 224 EcoSpace- Hartford, CT
2024 | Styling Identities: Hair’s Tangled Histories- Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT
2024 | Un+Art 6- Artspace Hartford - Hartford, CT
2023 | Freedom (Curator) - Windsor Art Center - Windsor, CT
2023 | Interpretations of Black Excellence (Curator) - The 224 EcoSpace - Hartford, CT
2022 | Seeking Freedom (Solo Exhibit) - Carriage House Theater - Hartford, CT
2022 | Acceptance through The Ages (Curator) - Windsor Art Center - Windsor, CT
2022 | Second Layer: Conversations Through Canvas by B.D. Stellmacher (Curator) - Windsor Art Center - Windsor, CT
2021 | The State of Health Equity Among Boys & Men of Color Summit (Curator / Arts Day Facilitator) - University Connecticut Health Center Health Disparities Institute - Hartford, CT
2021 | Emerge - Connecticut Center for Art and Technology - New Haven, CT
2021 | Black Period/Open Wall Series ed. 03 (multiple locations)-
Hill-Stead Museum - Farmington, CT
Free Center - Middletown, CT
2020 | Break Through (Solo Exhibit)- The Ethel Walker School, Corridor Gallery - Simsbury, CT
2020 | The Vision - Long Wharf Theater - New Haven, CT
2019 | Untitled (Solo Exhibit)- Gallery 66 - New Britain, CT
2019 | Basel Bash - The Compound - Miami, FL
2018 - 2019 | Audacious Agency (Traveling Exhibit)
Sarah Smith Gallery- Yale Divinity School - New Haven, CT
Five Points Annex Gallery- Torrington, CT
Windsor Art Center - Windsor, CT
2018 | Reflections of Humanity - Dehn Gallery - New Britain, CT
2018 | CT Arts Against Violence - Blends Gallery - Bridgeport, CT
2016 | Les Hommes: Interpretations of Manhood and Fatherhood through Visual Media (Curator)- The 224 EcoSpace - Hartford, CT
2015 | The Hartist Festival (Curator/Art Director) - Charter Oak Cultural Center - Hartford, CT
2015 | Many Rivers - Saratoga Art Center - Saratoga Springs, NY
2014 | By Faith (Solo Exhibit)- The 224 Eco Space - Hartford, CT
2014 | Collection of Works by Andre Rochester (Solo Exhibit)- Trinity College - Hartford, CT
2012 | Over Head, Under Foot - Ely Center of Contemporary Art - New Haven, CT
2011 | Untitled: Featured Artist (Solo Exhibit)- Charter Oak Cultural Center - Hartford, CT
2011 | Coloring outside The Lines: Expanding Your Jurisdiction - University of Connecticut Law School Library - Hartford, CT
2010 | The Works of Andre Rochester (Solo Exhibit)- Paris in Plantsville Gallery - Plantsville, CT
2010 | Black August Art Show - Brecht Forum - New York, NY
2009 | The As Yet Unnamed Art Show - MAC650 Gallery - Middletown, CT
2008 | UnArt 2 - Art Space Hartford - Hartford, CT