Henry Taylor (artist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Henry Taylor
Artist Henry Taylor working on a painting
Born	1958 Ventura, California, U.S.
Education	California Institute of the Arts
Known for	Painting

Henry Taylor (born in 1958) is an American artist. He is a painter who lives and works in Los Angeles, California. He is famous for his colorful acrylic paintings. He also creates sculptures and art installations.

About Henry Taylor's Life

Henry Taylor was born in Ventura, California. He was the youngest of eight children. His father worked as a painter for the U.S. government. Henry grew up in Oxnard, California. He took art classes at Oxnard College. His teacher, James Jarvaise, became an important mentor to him.

Before becoming a full-time artist, Henry worked for 10 years. He was a psychiatric technician at a hospital. He stopped working there in 1997. Then, he went to the California Institute of the Arts. He earned his Bachelor's of Fine Art degree in 1995. Henry Taylor has three children: Jade, Noah, and Epic.

Henry Taylor's Artworks

Henry Taylor is best known for his portraits. He paints many different people. These include his family, friends, and even strangers. He also paints famous people and historical figures. He often paints on unusual materials. These can be empty cigarette packs, cereal boxes, or suitcases. He also uses traditional stretched canvas.

Taylor's paintings often mix different times and places. For example, in his painting Cicely and Miles Visit the Obamas (2017), he shows Cicely Tyson and Miles Davis. They are painted as if they are visiting the White House. This makes it seem like they are meeting the Obamas.

His painting style is often described as lively and bold. People say his work shows a lot of kindness and understanding. His art is sometimes compared to blues music. It also has a strong message about society. Taylor's work is praised for being both artistic and expressive.

His art is connected to other American artists. These include the portrait painter Alice Neel. His work is also compared to Harlem Renaissance painters. These are artists like Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden. He is also compared to his fellow artist Kerry James Marshall.

Taylor also created a work about the history of the Master's Golf Tournament. This show was called "Disappeared, but A Tiger Showed Up, Later." It explored the past practice of only using Black caddies in the tournament.

Art Exhibitions

Henry Taylor's art has been shown in many important places. He had a big show at MoMA PS1. He also had solo exhibitions at the Studio Museum in Harlem and Artpace. His work has been part of group shows too. These include exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Other museums include the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and the Hammer Museum.

In 2023, he was an Artist-in-Residence at the Fabric Workshop Museum in Philadelphia. There, he had a solo show called Henry Taylor: Nothing Change, Nothing Strange. Also in 2023, Taylor worked with musician and businessman Pharrell Williams. They created designs for the 2024 Spring Season men's collection for the luxury brand Louis Vuitton.

A major exhibition of his work, Henry Taylor: B Side, was shown at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. It was on display from October 4, 2023, to January 28, 2024. Before that, it was at The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles. That show ran from November 6, 2022, to April 30, 2023.

Art Collections

Henry Taylor's paintings are part of many permanent collections. These are art collections that museums keep forever. Some of these famous places include the Pérez Art Museum Miami. His art is also at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Other places are the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Awards and Recognition

Henry Taylor received the Robert De Niro, Sr. Prize. This award recognized his great achievements in painting.

Art Market and Galleries

Since 2020, Henry Taylor has been represented by Hauser & Wirth. This is a well-known art gallery. Before that, he also worked with Blum & Poe in Los Angeles until 2025.

Henry Taylor's Thoughts

Henry Taylor has shared some of his thoughts about his art:

• "I paint everyone, or I try to. I try to capture the moment I am with someone who could be my friend, a neighbor, a celebrity, or a homeless person."
• "It takes courage to do a lot of things. But, in a way, it doesn’t actually take courage, because you are free to do it. It’s like jumping in the water. The water’s cold, but you just jump in. You’ve gotta just jump in all the time."

Quotes from Henry Taylor

Henry Taylor has shared his thoughts on his art:

• "I paint everyone, or I try to. I try to capture the moment I am with someone who could be my friend, a neighbor, a celebrity, or a homeless person."
• "It takes courage to do a lot of things. But, in a way, it doesn’t actually take courage, because you are free to do it. It’s like jumping in the water. The water’s cold, but you just jump in."