The Art of Ellis Wilson [Paperback]

Albert Sperath (Author), Margaret R. Vendryes (Author), Steven H. Jones (Author), Eva King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 11, 2000

" From the tobacco fields of western Kentucky to the streets of Harlem, from the Gullah Islands off the South Carolina and Georgia coasts to the all-black republic of Haiti, painter Ellis Wilson (1899-1977) examined the scope and depth of black culture. One of Kentucky's most significant African American artists, Wilson graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1923. He spent five more years in the city before moving to New York, where he lived for the rest of his life. Aside from his participation in the WPA's Federal Arts Project and a Guggenheim Fellowship, he was never able to support himself fully by painting. Yet his work has long been praised for its boldness and individuality. Black workers were a favorite subject: field hands, factory workers, loggers, fishermen, and more. Of his 1940s series of black factory employees, Wilson stated, ""That was the first time I had ever seen my people working in industry, so I painted them."" Over time his documentary style gave way to one that emphasized shape and color over pure representation. Despite exhibitions in New York and elsewhere, Wilson considered a small show at the public library in his hometown of Mayfield in 1947 to be ""one of the high points"" of his life. This catalog accompanies the first major retrospective of Wilson's paintings.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The best of [Wilson's] mature work is stunning, displaying a unique sense of color in relation to perspective.... An artist of rare importance." -- Express Books

"Wilson's travels through the Deep South and in Haiti stirred the sympathetic artistic expression of his African heritage in appealing and exotic tableaux of figure, costume, and setting." -- James Birchfield

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky (February 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813109809
• ISBN-13: 978-0813109800
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,062,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book I Ever Read About Ellis Wilson!!!, July 8, 2000

By 

Gail Willis "music maven" (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Ellis Wilson (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book. It is the best and only book I ever seen about Ellis Wilson and his art. If you are a big fan of his work like I am don't delay get this book right away!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book about art of Ellis Wilson, April 28, 2000

By 

Sheila Y. Stribling - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Ellis Wilson (Paperback)

They don't have many books about Ellis Wilson. He is a wonderful black artist. He did not get his credit due.