Ellis Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ellis Wilson
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Portrait of Ellis Wilson, 1959, by Carl Van Vechten
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| Born | April 20, 1899 Mayfield, Kentucky
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| Died | January 2, 1977 (aged 77) Manhattan, New York
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | Kentucky State College |
| Alma mater | Chicago Art Institute |
| Awards | Guggenheim Fellowship |
Ellis Wilson (born April 20, 1899 – died January 2, 1977) was an amazing African-American artist. He was part of a special time in history called the Harlem Renaissance.
Contents
Discovering Ellis Wilson: An Artist's Journey
Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
Ellis Wilson was born in 1899 in Mayfield, Kentucky. His parents were Frank and Minnie Wilson. Frank, his father, was a barber and also enjoyed painting as a hobby.
Ellis went to the Mayfield Colored Grade School. Later, he attended the Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute in Frankfort. He studied there for two years. However, he could only take classes in farming and teaching.
Wilson really wanted to study art. So, at 19, he left school and moved to Chicago. There, he studied at the famous School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He finished his art studies in 1923. For the next five years, he lived in Chicago. He looked for work as an artist who created designs for businesses.
The Harlem Renaissance and Beyond
Wilson moved to Harlem, New York in 1928. He had heard Alain Locke speak at an art show in Chicago. This show was called "The Negro in Art Week."
When Ellis first arrived in New York, it was hard for Black artists. They could not show their art in many regular galleries. He joined the Harlem Artists Guild. This group was part of the Harlem Renaissance. This movement was a big effort to support and show the work of Black artists. Ellis took part in many art shows connected to this exciting time.
Wilson worked for the Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1940. He also created special three-part paintings called triptychs. These were for chaplains in the US Army and Navy.
In 1944, he received a special award called a Guggenheim Fellowship. This award allowed him to travel through the southern United States. Wilson was also very interested in Haiti. He visited the country after getting an award from the Terry Art Institute in 1952.
His love for Haiti and its people shows in his paintings from that time. These paintings are full of life and energy. Wilson is best known for his art showing Haitian people and their culture.
Artist Samella Lewis said that Wilson always made beautiful and complex designs. He used bold colors in his paintings. His art style was unique, mixing parts of Expressionism with modern Realism. Expressionism means showing strong feelings through art. You can see this in his painting "Bird Vendor." Even though Wilson had many art shows and won awards, he never became rich.
Later Life and Legacy
Ellis Wilson lived at the Cornish Arms Home for Adults. He passed away in French Hospital in New York City. He died on Sunday, January 2, 1977, at the age of 76. He had been sick for two weeks.
In Pop Culture
One of Ellis Wilson's paintings, "Funeral Procession," was shown on TV. It appeared in the American NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. This happened in Season 2, in an episode called "The Auction." In the episode, Clair Huxtable, played by Phylicia Rashad, buys the painting. She says it was painted by her great-uncle, Ellis Wilson. The painting then stayed in the Huxtable family's living room throughout the rest of the TV series.
See also
- Funeral Procession (painting)
Images for kids
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Portrait of Ellis Wilson, 1959, by Carl Van Vechten
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Old Charleston Market, a painting by Ellis Wilson
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Old Charleston Houses, another painting by Ellis Wilson
