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 1958) is an American artist and painter. He lives and works in Los Angeles, California. He is famous for his acrylic paintings, sculptures made from different materials, and art installations.

Life of Henry Taylor

Henry Taylor was born in Ventura, California, in 1958. 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 with James Jarvaise, who became an important teacher for him. His brother, Randy, was involved in a civil rights group.

Before becoming a full-time artist, Taylor worked for 10 years. He was a psychiatric technician at a mental hospital. He retired from this job in 1997. After that, he went to the California Institute for 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

Taylor creates many portraits. He is known for painting on many different surfaces. These include empty cigarette packs, detergent boxes, cereal boxes, suitcases, and even furniture. He also paints on traditional canvases.

His paintings show a wide variety of people. He paints his family, friends, and people he met at the hospital. He also paints strangers, waitresses, and famous people. Sometimes he paints historical figures or sports heroes. He even paints himself.

Taylor's art can mix different times and places. For example, in his painting Cicely and Miles Visit the Obamas (2017), he shows famous people from the past, Cicely Tyson and Miles Davis. They are painted as if they are visiting the Obamas at the White House.

People describe Taylor's painting style in many ways. They say it is lively, bold, and full of feeling. His work often shows deep understanding and kindness. It is sometimes compared to blues music. His art also often makes important comments about society.

Taylor's work is praised for being both thoughtful and natural. His art connects to different American art styles. These include the portraits of Alice Neel and the work of Harlem Renaissance painters. Artists like Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden are examples. His art is also compared to his fellow artist Kerry James Marshall.

One of Taylor's recent works is The Times Ain't A Changing, Fast Enough!. This painting addresses important social issues and current events. Taylor also created art about the history of the Master's Golf Tournament. This was shown in an exhibit called "Disappeared, but A Tiger Showed Up, Later."

Exhibitions and Shows

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 the Santa Monica Museum of Art. His work has been part of group shows at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

In 2023, Taylor 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, he worked with rapper and music businessman Pharrell Williams. They created designs for the 2024 Spring Season men's collection for the luxury brand Louis Vuitton.

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

Art in Collections

Henry Taylor's art is part of the permanent collections of many famous museums. These include the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the J. Paul Getty Museum. His work is also at the Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Hammer Museum.

Awards

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

Art Market

Henry Taylor's art is represented by several galleries. These include Hauser & Wirth, Blum & Poe in Los Angeles, and Feuer/Mesler gallery in New York.

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."