Eileen Abdulrashid is a 20th-century artist and craftsperson known for her work inenamel on copper. Nelson is known for being a part of the first exhibition of contemporary African-American women artists in California, Sapphire: You've Come a Long Way, Baby at Suzanne Jackson's Gallery 32 in Los Angeles in 1970. The exhibition was titled Sapphire, derived from the derogatory name frequently given to aggressive or ambitious African American Women. The exhibition was part of a movement of black artists and curators responding to second-wave feminism's focus on white women by creating exhibitions of African American women artists.
Early life and family
Eileen Abdulrashid grew up in California, and spent time in Illinois. Her cousin is artist Senga Nengudi.
Abdulrashid has exhibited at Suzanne Jackson's Gallery 32 in Los Angeles, CA as part of a group exhibition entitled Sapphire: You've Come a Long Way, Baby. Other participating artists included Betye Saar, Georgia Bohanan, Suzanne Jackson, Yvonne Cole Meo, and Senga Nengudi. The exhibit ran from July 4 to July 9, 1970. This was likely the first group exhibition of African American women artists in Los Angeles. Abdulrashid was one of nineteen artists featured in the 1970 California Black Craftsmen traveling exhibition under the auspices of the Mills College Art Gallery, Oakland, CA. The exhibition ran from February 15 through March 8, 1970 and was organized by artist and curator Evangeline "E.J." Montgomery. In 1973 Eileen Abdulrashid attended the National Conference of Artists in New York with artists David Hammons, Betye Saar, and Dan Concholar. She exhibited at a number of galleries in both Chicago and Los Angeles. Chicago Galleries include the Art Institute, Fie Gallery, H. Horner Gallery, South Side Art Center, Arts Gallery, and the East Gallery. Los Angeles galleries include the Brockman Gallery, Gallery 32, and the Central 1015 Gallery. At an exhibition at the Foyer Gallery in the Marin County Civic Center in 1975, her works included paintings, drawings, sculpture, and enamel-work, and they incorporated a wide variety of materials.
