About Mr. Donald Walker
Nationally known artist, Mr. Donald Walker, began his distinguished career as the first African-American Artist to work at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. At the time, Donald was one of only five African-American Graphic Designers in the United States working at a major newspaper. In 1982, Donald decided to go into business for himself. He teamed up with baseball great, Dave Winfield, and opened up two Art Galleries in the Twin Cities.
Donald has had the opportunity to exhibit his work all across the country. His talents were graciously employed to help raise money for organizations such as Vidal Sassoon’s Esquire Boys Club, the March of Dimes, the Washington Easter Seals, the American Medical Association, Trent Tucker Foundation and the Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In Toronto, Canada one of Donald’s paintings sold at auction for $32,000.00 to benefit a charity.
In addition, Donald has had the honor of painting portraits for Vidal Sassoon, Bill Cosby, the late Sammy Davis, Jr., Sugar Ray Leonard, Dave Winfield, musician Prince, and Dennis Green, former NFL Head Coach. Donald’s art has been included in the art collections of the late Alex Haley, Levar Burton, Walter Mathau, Hugh O’Brien, Bryant Gumbel, Coretta Scott King, Denise Nichols, Ken Griffey, Sr., Jesse Jackson, Jr., Orlando Thomas, the Temptations, the National League Baseball Players Association, City Bank of New York, General Mills Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shields Corporation, Rondo Public Library, the St. Paul Civic Center, Joel Waller, Chairman of Wilson Leather Experts, Chicago Bulls' B.J. Armstrong, New York Nicks' Patrick Ewing and the late Johnnie Cochran, Jr. to name just a few. Donald was commissioned by the Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota to do a commemorative painting for Super Bowl XXVI.
Some of Donald’s most notable exhibits include; New York Art Expo, Pillsbury Corporation, Deluxe Corporation, American Express Corporation, Target Corporation, Norwest Bank, 3M Co., US Bank Corporation, Minnesota Vikings, National Bar Association, Lutheran Brotherhood, City of St. Paul, American Medical Association, and the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
Donald is also a published author and illustrator. His book, “We Can Learn Together,” was utilized by the Minneapolis School System as a teaching tool.
Most recently, Donald was commissioned to draw a mural honoring the Original Tuskegee Airmen in Atlanta, Georgia. He also has painted murals for Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, St. Albans Church and New Hope Baptist Church.