Alvin Dante Yarbrough was born in East Cleveland, Ohio. He showed early signs of natural artistic ability and took his talent seriously, excelling at every stage of his early education. His earliest influences were a book with pen and ink illustrations and a brother who was then a promising artist.

Dante earned a BFA degree from Clark Atlanta University currently runs his own studio in downtown Atlanta. He has exhibited in solo and group shows in New York, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Nashville and Arizona. He has been commissioned by Clark Atlanta University, West Georgia University (Carrollton), Fulton County, Georgia, the City of Atlanta and HJ Russell & Company.

Prominent collectors include Vanderbilt University (Department of African American Studies in the Diaspora), The Honorable Mayor Shirley Franklin, Ambassador Andrew Young, Atlanta Chief of Police Richard Pennington, television actress Anna Marie Horsford (Amen, The Wayans Brothers, Friday), noted best-selling author Nathan McCall (Makes Me Wanna Holla), America’s Mart (Atlanta, GA), the Frank Ski Foundation and noted Atlanta collectors Drs. Jeff and Sivan Hines.

His “Absent Curriculum” piece was awarded the 2008 Brown-Forman Corporation Purchase Award and a merit award for his “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” piece; both were presented during the 14th Annual African American Art Exhibition in Louisville, Kentucky (jurored by artist/educator Kevin Cole). Most recently, Dante was named the featured artist for his piece “Salvation” which will be showcased during the 20th Anniversary of the National Black Arts Festival to be held July 2008 in Atlanta, GA.