Jimmy Lee Sudduth facts for kids

Jimmy Lee Sudduth was a famous American artist. He was also a talented blues musician. Jimmy Lee was born in Alabama in 1910. He lived there until he passed away in 2007.

About Jimmy Lee Sudduth

His Early Life

Jimmy Lee Sudduth was born on March 10, 1910. He grew up on a farm near Fayette, Alabama. He started making art when he was just a child. He would carve wooden dolls for his family's porch. He also drew pictures in the dirt or on tree trunks.

People in his town soon noticed his artistic skills. He began collecting colors from nature. He used dirt, rocks, plants, and even food. He also found colors from things like old industrial products. He used these to make his unique finger paintings. He said he used his fingers because "they never wore out."

Jimmy Lee often painted on things he found. These included pieces of plywood or old doors. He also used boards from torn-down buildings. He tried mixing his colors with different things. This helped the paint stick better. He used syrup, sugar, soft drinks, and even caulk.

Dog, a painting from 1986.

His Art Career

Jimmy Lee Sudduth had his first public art show in 1968. It was held at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa. In 1971, he had a show in his hometown of Fayette. This show helped him become well-known in the area. From that year on, he was a special artist. He showed his work at the yearly Kentuck Festival of the Arts.

In 1976, he was invited to a big event. It was the Smithsonian Institution's Bicentennial Festival. He played his harmonica and showed his paintings there. He even appeared on famous TV shows. These included the Today Show and 60 Minutes in 1980.

Jimmy Lee received the Alabama Arts Award in 1995. He also worked as an artist-in-residence. This was at the New Orleans Museum of Art. His art is now in many important collections. These include the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the High Museum of Art. You can also find his work at the Birmingham Museum of Art and the House of Blues.

He was one of the first great artists from the southern United States. He was very involved in his community. His art was special and unique. It showed the culture of African American people in the rural South. He painted things from his everyday life. He drew people he knew and famous people. He also painted buildings, farm scenes, and animals. Sometimes, he would paint religious figures like Christ.

Many people thought Jimmy Lee only used mud and natural colors. These included motor oil or plant juices. But his earliest paintings actually used a lot of house paint. As he became more famous, art dealers gave him advice. They told him how to make his art last longer and be more colorful. By the 1990s, he could no longer collect his own materials. He started using store-bought acrylic paints. He applied them with sponge brushes. He painted on wood panels that were prepared with a black background.

His Later Years

Jimmy Lee Sudduth wanted to stay in his home for as long as possible. But he spent his last year at the Fayette Nursing Home. He passed away at the Fayette Medical Center. This was on September 2, 2007. He was 97 years old.

Solo Exhibitions

• Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama. January 15 to March 27, 2005. This show was put together by Susan Mitchell Crawley.