Thaddeus Mosley facts for kids

Thaddeus G. Mosley (born in 1926) is a famous American sculptor. He mostly works with wood. Mosley lives and creates his art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is known for his unique sculptures that often look like they are dancing or moving.

The Life of Thaddeus Mosley

Early Life and Education

Thaddeus Mosley was born in 1926 in New Castle, Pennsylvania. His family worked as farmers and miners. After finishing high school, he joined the U.S. Navy. He helped supply ships in California during his service. He was stationed on Peleliu Island in the Pacific Ocean.

After his time in the Navy, Mosley used a special grant to go to college. He attended the University of Pittsburgh. In 1950, he earned his degree in English and Journalism. While studying, he also worked part-time. He helped develop photos in a darkroom. He became very interested in art. A class called "World Cultures" taught him about different art styles. He learned about African art and European artists like Constantin Brâncuși.

Family and Early Career

Mosley met his first wife, Ruth Ray, at a dance. They got married after his first year of college. They had three children together. The family settled in Pittsburgh. After graduating, Mosley started working for the U.S. Postal Service.

In the 1950s, he also worked as a freelance writer and photographer. He wrote for newspapers like the Pittsburgh Courier. He also wrote for national magazines such as Ebony and Jet. His articles often featured jazz musicians and athletes. These stories later gave him ideas for his sculptures.

How He Started Sculpting

Mosley became interested in sculpture by visiting the Carnegie Museum of Art. He also read many art history books at public libraries. In the late 1950s, he saw a display of Scandinavian furniture. It had beautiful wood carvings of birds and fish. Instead of buying them, Mosley decided to make his own.

This was the start of his passion for wood carving. He spent the rest of his life creating art. He also became very active in the Pittsburgh art community.

Helping the Art Community

Mosley made friends with other local artists. These friends included William Palmer and Carl Smith. They often shared ideas and visited art shows together. In 1961, Mosley helped start the Watt Lane Art Club. He founded it with two other African-American artists, Charles Anderson and Lee Cowan.

Their goal was to support African-American artists in Pittsburgh. More artists joined the club. It grew to over 20 members. They changed their name to Group One. This group ran a community art gallery. They kept the gallery open until 1964. Mosley was also part of another art group called Group A.

Later Life and Recognition

Mosley later married Yvonne Reed. They had three children together. They moved to the Southside of Pittsburgh. This new home gave him more space for his art studio. A local TV channel, WQED, even made a special show about him. This made him well known in Pittsburgh.

He continued to work for the U.S. Postal Service. He also showed his sculptures in local exhibitions. In 1968, the Carnegie Museum of Art invited him to have his own show. This helped him gain national attention. Mosley has always worked to support the African-American art community in Pittsburgh. He has been a leader in groups like the Pittsburgh Society of Sculptors.

Exhibitions and Awards

Thaddeus Mosley's art has been shown in many important exhibitions. In 1979, he had a show at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts (PCA). He also exhibited with Selma Burke at the Three Rivers Arts Festival in 1990. In 2018, he was one of 32 artists featured in the Carnegie International.

Mosley has received many awards for his art. In 1999, he won the Governor's Award for Artist of the Year. This was for Visual Arts in Pennsylvania. He also received the PCA Cultural Award in 2000. In 2002, he got the PCA Service to the Arts Award. This award honors artists who inspire and commit to the arts.

A 45-minute film about Mosley's life was made in 2012. It is called Thaddeus Mosley: Sculptor. In 2022, his sculptures were shown in Paris, France. They were part of a special art event called Paris + par Art Basel. His work was displayed at the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix.

In 2023, Mosley had several solo art shows. One was at Karma Los Angeles. Another was called Thaddeus Mosley: Forest. This show was at the Nasher Sculpture Center. It featured five new sculptures. These were carved from old walnut trees Mosley found in Pittsburgh.

His Art and Inspirations

Thaddeus Mosley is known for his large, powerful sculptures. Many of his works are in Pittsburgh. One famous piece is Phoenix. It is a 14-foot cedar sculpture. Another is Mountaintop. This limestone sculpture is at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library.

Other important works include Three Rivers Bench. He made this in 2003 for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. His art has also been shown in other cities. This includes the Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He also had an exhibition at the CUE Art Foundation Gallery in New York City.

One well-known sculpture is Georgia Gate, made in 1975. It is owned by the Carnegie Museum of Art. This piece was inspired by sculptures Mosley saw in a book. The book showed graveyard sculptures from Sumner, Georgia.

Mosley met many famous jazz musicians in Pittsburgh. These included Miles Davis and John Coltrane. His friend Tommy Turrentine was also a musician. Jazz music has greatly influenced his art. He often carves in an improvisational way, like jazz music. Some of his sculptures even have jazz-inspired titles. For example, Tatum Scales (2020) is likely named after the fast-playing jazz pianist Art Tatum.

Other artists have also inspired Mosley. He thinks Isamu Noguchi is one of the "greatest American sculptors." Mosley is also very interested in African art. He especially likes the many different art styles from Western and Central Africa.