Herbert Singleton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Herbert Singleton
Herbert Singleton and his piece The Way We Was
Born	Herbert Singleton 1945 New Orleans, Louisiana
Died	2007(2007-00-00) (aged 61–62) New Orleans, Louisiana
Nationality	American
Known for	Sculpture and Bas Relief
Movement	Modern Art

Herbert Singleton (1945–2007) was an American sculptor and painter from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was known for his unique art style called bas-relief, which means carving pictures that stick out from a flat surface. His artwork often showed the everyday challenges and stories of life in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans.

Early Life and Artistic Journey

Herbert Singleton was born on May 31, 1945. He was the oldest of eight children. When he was about ten years old, his father left and did not return. His mother worked hard at a hospital to support the family. Herbert went to school until the seventh grade. As a young person, he worked in a steel factory and also painted bridges.

In 1970, Herbert started making small clay snake sculptures. He made these for the Voodoo Museum in New Orleans. However, he found that unfired clay was too fragile and broke easily. So, he decided to switch to wood. He began carving long ax handles into walking sticks.

Later, he started carving on bigger pieces of wood. He often used old doors and other solid wood he found near the Mississippi River. It is believed that Herbert Singleton created more than 200 artworks in his lifetime. He lived the rest of his life in Algiers, a neighborhood in New Orleans, and passed away at age 62.

How Herbert Singleton Created His Art

Singleton used simple hand tools to carve his art. He worked with knives, chisels, and mallets. He often found the wood he used along the banks of the Mississippi River. He especially liked to use oak and cypress doors and cabinets.

He would paint his carvings and reliefs with bright, strong colors. His art told dramatic stories from his own life. These stories often showed what it was like to live in his neighborhood.

Over time, his art changed. When he started using larger pieces like doors, he began to show different kinds of scenes. He created artworks about stories from the Bible. He also showed everyday life in African American communities. Some of his art even touched on bigger social and political topics.

Art Exhibitions

Herbert Singleton's artwork has been shown in many art exhibitions. Here are some of the places where his art has been displayed:

• Ten Southern Black Folk Artists. 1990, Icons Gallery, Houston, TX.
• Not by Luck: Self-Taught Artists in the American South. 1993, Hunterdon Art Center, Clinton, NJ.
• Black History and Artistry: Work by Self-Taught Painters and Sculptors from the Blanchard Hill Collection. 1993, Baruch College, CUNY, New York, NY.
• Pictured in my Mind: Contemporary American Self-Taugt Art from the collection of Dr. Kurt Gitter and Alice Rae Yellen. 1995, Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL.
• By Any Means Necessary: Sculpture by African American Self-Taught Artists. 1999, Cavin-Morris Gallery, New York, NY.
• Let it Shine: Self-Taught Art from the T. Marshall Hahn Collection. 2001, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA.
• Singular Visions: Folk Art from Charlottesville Collections. 2001, University of Virginia Art Museum, Charlottesville, VA.
• Street Savvy: New and Recent Works. 2002, Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, Jamaica, NY.
• Goin' Cross my Mind: Contemporary Self-Taught Artists of Louisiana. 2002, Madame John's Legacy, New Orleans, LA.
• The Louisiana Purchase Dis-Mantled. 2003, Barrister's Gallery, New Orleans, LA.
• Tony Green does Mardi Gras. 2004, John Stinson Fine Arts, New Orleans, LA.
• Coming Home: Self-Taught Artists, the Bible, and the American South. 2004, Art Museum of University of Memphis, Memphis, TN.
• The Souls of Black Folk: Selections of African American Folk Art from the Museum's Permanent Collection. 2004-ongoing, Museum of African American Life and Culture, Dallas, TX.
• The Dream Lives On: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Struggle for Justice. 2005, Robert Cargo Folk Art Gallery, Paoli, PA.
• Amazing Grace: Self-taught Artists from the Mullis Foundation. 2007-2008, Georgia Museum of Art, Athens, GA.
• Crossroads: Spirituality in American Folk Traditions. 2007-2008, Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, Owensboro, KY.
• Houston Collects: African American Art. 2008, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Houston, TX.
• Go Tell It On the Mountain. 2012-2013, California African American Museum, Los Angeles, CA.
• Souls Stirring: African American Self-Taught Artists from the South. 2013-2014, California African American Museum, Los Angeles, CA.
• Prospect.3 Notes for Now. 2014-2015, Multi-venue, New Orleans, LA.

Museum Collections

Many museums have Herbert Singleton's art in their permanent collections. This means his artwork is kept and shown there all the time.

• Smithsonian American Art Museum
• Minneapolis Institute of Art
• High Museum of Art
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Ogden Museum of Southern Art
• Pérez Art Museum Miami
• Contemporary Art Center
• Birmingham Museum of Art
• Museum of African American Life and Culture