Brazilian Traveler

Artist Information

Paul Goodnight was born In Chicago, Illinois. He was raised in Roxbury, Massachusetts and New London, Connecticut. After completing high school, he was drafted into the military, serving two years in the Army during the Vietnam War. He observed firsthand the unspeakable horrors of the bloody conflict that traumatized him. The trauma affected him so that he was unable to speak which led to drug abuse. When he returned to Boston, Goodnight retreated to painting because it gave the greatest comfort and fulfillment. He soon enrolled in Vesper George School of Art and Roxbury Community College. After completion in 1976, he was awarded a bachelor’s degree at the Massachusetts College of Art.While developing his personal style and tastes, Goodnight was influenced by, among others, local African American artists such as Paul Rahilly, his painting instructor as well as Allan Rohan Crite, Gary Rickson, and Dana Chandler. Goodnight's work has also been featured in films and on many television programs including Seinfeld and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, which collectively propelled his work into the mainstream market.