Sybil Gibson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sybil Gibson
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| Born |
Sybil Aaron
February 18, 1908 |
| Died | January 2, 1995 (aged 86) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Painting |
| Movement | Outsider art, folk art, naive, self-taught |
| Spouse(s) | Hugh Gibson (m. 1929–1935; divorce), David DeYarmon (m. c. 1950–1958; death) |
Sybil Gibson was an American painter who taught herself how to create art. She was born Sybil Aaron on February 18, 1908, and passed away on January 2, 1995.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Sybil Aaron was born in Dora, Alabama. Her parents were Lenora Reid Aaron and Monroe Aaron. Sybil was one of eight children. Her father was a successful farmer and owned a coal mine called Sulphur Springs Coal Company.
Sybil went to Jacksonville State Teachers College. She earned a degree in Elementary Education. After college, she worked as a teacher.
Her Art Career
For most of her adult life, Sybil Gibson did not paint. When she was in college, an art teacher told her she had no talent. This made her not want to paint for a long time.
However, on Thanksgiving Day in 1963, when she was 55 years old, something changed. Sybil started making her own wrapping paper. She used tempera paint on brown paper grocery bags. This led her to discover a love for creating art. She continued to paint until she passed away.
What Her Art Looked Like
Sybil Gibson's paintings are often called 'folk art'. She is also known as an outsider or naïve artist. This means she was self-taught and did not go to traditional art schools. Her art style was unique and came from her own ideas.
A writer named Howell Raines described her paintings in 1971. He said her art was "fragile" and had "delicate" colors. He also noted that while her paintings showed real things, they also had a "dream-like quality."
Sybil mostly painted people, especially faces. She also painted flowers, birds, and small animals.
Exhibitions and Collections
Sybil Gibson's art has been shown in more than 50 solo exhibitions. Her paintings are part of many public museum collections. You can find her work at places like:
- the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
- the Museum of American Folk Art
- the Johnson Collection
- the Birmingham Museum of Art
- the New Orleans Museum of Art
Sybil was known for being a bit unusual. Sometimes, she would disappear, leaving her drawings scattered around her yard. It is believed that about 300 of her paintings are still around today. Many more were lost or destroyed when she disappeared.
Her Personal Life
In 1929, Sybil married her high school boyfriend, Hugh Gibson. They had a daughter together. By 1935, they were divorced. Sybil's parents helped care for her daughter while Sybil went back to school. Even though she grew up in a wealthy family, she did not have much money for most of her adult life.
In the late 1940s, Sybil moved to Florida. She moved because of a sinus problem.
From about 1950 to 1958, she was married to David DeYarmon. Their marriage ended when he passed away.
Later in her life, Sybil's daughter helped her move back to Florida. Sybil had an operation there to help her see better. She passed away on January 2, 1995, in Dunedin, Florida. She was 86 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Sybil Gibson para niños
