Alvin's parents were Charles A. Hollingsworth and Cynthia Jones who were married in Barbados and settled in Harlem, New York on February 17, 1923. In 1924, their first child was named Roy and on February 25, 1928, Alvin Carl Hollingsworth was born. Alvin began drawing early, at four years old, and when he was twelve (in 1940), he became assistant art director at Holyoke's Publishing and drew Cat-Man Comics. After making a point to meet Charles M. Quinlan (director for Holyoke Publishing Company), Alvin impressed Quinlan so much with his knowledge of his (Quilan's) work, that Alvin became his prodigy.
Hollingsworth said: "While I was in junior high school, a Mr. Johnson, a white teacher, thought I should be thinking more about my art. He insisted that I get a portfolio together, and then helped me to get into the High School of Music and Art. I don't think I would have made it without his help." 2  High School of Music and Art Because he had to deal with gangs in his neighborhood, Hollingsworth stated this about his first days at M&A in 1942: "Even at Music and Art I was lucky. The place was highly competitive but there was less bigotry there than at other high schools. Even so, when I got there, I was wondering who I would have to fight. One week passed. Two weeks. No bullies. No fights. I couldn't believe it." 3 During high school, Hollingsworth became a comic illustrator under his own name as well as under various pseudonyms, including "Alvin Holly." He was also the first African American artist hired by Fawcett Comics. During this time, Hollingsworth and his family lived in Harlem at the five-story building in a fifth floor apartment on 115th Street at 2051 Eighth Avenue #5R (the first floor doorway entrance is noted by the red star).
During January 1946, Hollingworth graduated the High School of Music and Art (age 17).  January 1946 Yearbook, graduation photo of Hollingsworth
Hollingsworth got his first assignments from the Baily Shop studio in 1946. In fact, the young artist’s first “signed” work appeared in BLUE BEETLE #44 (July-Aug. 1946), which also featured Stoner’s work on the title character, Bronze Man. Hollingsworth penned this comic under the name Alec Hope.
From 1949 on, Hollingsworth churned out artwork at the frenzied pace demanded by the industry. He became one of the most notable artists in the crime and horror genres. Hollingsworth attended the Art Students League of New York from 1950 to 1952.
By 1953, he was creating his own comic strip that was nationally syndicated by the Associated Press in one-hundred forty newspapers. Hollingsworth worked on newspaper comic strips including Kandy (1954-1955) from the Pittsburgh Courier, Smith-Mann Syndicate. Kandy was “an action-filled tale of competitive auto racing in the shadow of ruthless corporate espionage.” It featured Kandy MacKay, a young African American woman engineer who designed and built cars, and Rod Stone, a black competitive race car driver.  1955 Kandy Around 1955, Hollingsworth moved from comics to fine arts (representational and abstract paintings and collages). His paintings dealt with the civil rights movement, woman's rights, spirituality, jazz, urban life and dance. In 1956, He participated in his first group exhibition at the 45th Annual Newport Art Association Show. Hollingsworth majored in art at the City College of New York, and received a B.A. in Fine Arts. He Graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1956, Cartoonist Society: Chairman, Art Society: Mercury, 1956 Microcosm Art Editor.
"Harlem," a series of sketches that appeared in the High men's magazine, vol. 1 #4, December 1957, Periodical House (click images to enlarge).
During the 1960's, Hollingsworth taught illustration privately at the High School of Art & Design while working on a doctorate at the School of Education at New York University. 1961 - Hollingsworth had his first solo exhibition "Exodus" at the Ward Eggleston Gallery, New York. Hollingsworth began a series of mixed media paintings called Cry City, which was representative of his growing activism in the civil rights movement. Hollingsworth earned his master’s degree from City College in 1959.  Trapped (from Cry city series) , oil, acrylic and mixed media, collage on fiberboard 1963 - He and fellow African-American artists formed the group Spiral to help the Civil Rights movement through art exhibitions.  1966-68: Served as director at the Lincoln Institute of Psycho-Therapy Art Gallery. 1967 - Hollingsworth had an exhibition entitled Man of La Mancha at ANTA Washington Square Theatre (American National Theater and Academy) in Greenwich Village. 1970 - He hosted a ten-part series for NBC Network entitled, "You're Part of Art." Hollingsworth.as also a Ph.D candidate at the School of Education at New York University.  You're A Part of Art, Oil on canvas, 1970 1972 - Hollingsworth married Marjorie LA Roche. 1977 - He wrote and moderated three-part television series: "You've Gotta Have Art." 1979 - The Don Quixote series - Lithographs
From 1980 until retiring in 1998, Hollingsworth taught art as a full professor of art at Hostos Community College of the City University of New York. On April 24, 1993, an exhibition was held at the Episcopal Mission Society (presently Sheltering Arms of N.Y.) of Alvin Hollingsworth paintings. (This writer met Hollingsworth on that day because I was hired to videotape the event). Alvin Hollingsworth passed away from a long, lingering illness on July 14, 2000 at age 72. His last known residence was in Hastings on the Hudson, in Westchester County, New York. He left behind his wife, Marjorie and children Kim, Raymond, Stephen, Kevin, Monique, Denise and Jeanette.
Also check out: Alvin C Hollingsworth - Black Artist in comic books and a painter Credits: 1,2,3 - credit throughout from - The Invisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artists of Comic Books, Yoe Books. Ted Adams and Robbie Williams, Founders, eISBN: 9781684069125 4 - Alvin C. Hollingsworth, “Teaching Art to the Gifted in a New York High School.” American Artist, June 1964 5 - "Eyes of the City Exhibition Catalogue," 1974
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Time To SmileLittle known facts about M&A and its students Archives
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