b-b-bonus this week in outsider art // march thirteenth
elijah pierce appreciation and the newest addition to my personal collection
FIND OF THE WEEK
Sometimes, I wonder why I even let other people know that some of these pieces are available for purchase because I would love to own them myself!
That is most certainly the case for this stunning little piece by Sybil Gibson. This is apparently a double-sided work signed and dated by the artist titled “Abstract Floral (Floral)”. You can see the date, 1993, meaning it was one of the last few works she created as she passed away only two years later.
For much of her adult life she had no interest in painting, having had her ambitions crushed when a college art teacher told her she had no talent. However, on Thanksgiving Day 1963, aged 55, Gibson took to creating her own wrapping paper designs using tempera paint and brown paper grocery bags. This led to a fascination with creating art which lasted until her death. — Wikipedia
Some works by Gibson, a completely self-taught artist, feel somewhat faded, incomplete for lack of a better word, or almost unfinished. This work looks as good as the day it was painted with the pink watercolor popping of the cardboard. What a delight!
This work is up for auction via Neal Auction Company on March 14th.
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B-B-BONUS
After a few days in New York City, seeing some incredible works by the great Elijah Pierce, I’m thinking about turning this whole operation into an Elijah Pierce fan account. Every time I see a work of his I’ve never seen before, I’m completely blown away.
Not only did I get to witness some of Pierce's more gorgeous works at the Fleisher/Ollman booth at the Outsider Art Fair, but Duff Lindsay of Lindsay Gallery in Columbus, home to the late great Elijah Pierce, had a few pieces—one in particular that I was thrilled to finally see in person. See below.
