Purvis Young

Purvis Young

Name/Title

untitled

Entry/Object ID

2019.1.13

Description

This colorful collage was painted onto several pieces of paper, which was then backed onto wood, like many of Purvis Young's work. What is left of an interior wood frame remains, centering the piece. Young often depicted graffiti-like scenes of crowds, inspired by his life growing up in Overtown, Miami Florida. Much of his work also depicts hovering angels (representing hope), wild horses (representing freedom), and eyes (representing "the system"). His work has been featured several accredited museums such as the Ringling Museum of Art, the Bass Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Artwork Details

Medium

Wood, paint, Paper

Collection

Southern Vernacular Art Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2019.1

Source or Donor

Hill, Lou & Caynne

Acquisition Method

Donation

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Young, Purvis

Role

Artist

Date made

n.d.

Dimensions

Height

28 in

Width

35-1/2 in

Depth

1 in

Interpretative Labels

Label

Purvis Young (1943-2010) Purvis Young is a self-taught artist from Overtown Miami, Florida, who, having researched art history extensively says he is influenced by Van Gogh, Picasso, and Rembrandt. Young's vibrant paintings often show the streets of Overtown with "graffiti-like repetitive images" of traffic crowds and hovering angels. His angels represent hope, he uses wild horses to represent freedom, and eyes to represent "the system". His style is naïve, expressionistic and symbolic.

Created By

admin@catalogit.app

Create Date

July 8, 2009