Thornton Dial Jr. facts for kids

Thornton Dial Jr. (born 1952) is a modern African-American artist from Bessemer, Alabama. He is known for his paintings, sculptures, and special artworks called assemblages, which are made from different objects put together.

He is the oldest son of the famous artist Thornton Dial Sr. Much like his father, Thornton Dial Jr. creates art that shares powerful messages about politics and social issues. His work is known for being bold and making people think.

Early Life and Family

Thornton Dial Jr., who was also called "Little Buck," grew up in a very creative family. His father, Thornton Dial Sr., was a major artist. His uncle Arthur and cousin Ronald Lockett were also artists. They all learned from and inspired each other.

After attending high school, Dial Jr. worked for a construction company. Later, he got a job at the Pullman Standard Company, a factory that built train cars. There, he learned how to bend and shape metal. This skill became very important for his art. Many men in the Dial family worked at Pullman, and their experience with industrial materials shaped their unique art styles.

Art with a Message

Thornton Dial Jr. began creating his own art in 1986. His work almost always comments on important topics in the United States, such as fairness, race, and politics. He uses his art to share his point of view on these big ideas.

Using Symbols in Art

Dial Jr. often uses animals in his art to represent people and ideas.

• Lions: He uses lions to symbolize Black men in Africa or powerful leaders. One piece is called King of Africa. Another, Three Lions (Honoring Dr. King and the Kennedy's), honors important figures in American history.
• Gorillas: He sometimes uses gorillas to represent the struggles of working-class Black men in America. This is a powerful and thought-provoking symbol. For example, his work Trees to Climb uses this idea to talk about the lack of opportunities for some people.

In one piece, The President And His Staff Trying To Decide What To Do About Children On [...], he painted a frog relaxing on rocks while tadpoles struggle nearby. This was his way of making a strong statement about leaders not paying attention to serious problems.

Unique Materials and Style

Because of his background in construction and metalworking, Dial Jr. uses materials that are not common for artists. He often works with industrial items like:

• Corrugated tin
• Plywood
• Enamel and oil-based paint
• Sealant (a protective coating)

His knowledge of these materials allows him to use them in new and creative ways. His paintings and sculptures are often very large, making his messages even more powerful.

Exhibitions

Thornton Dial Jr.'s art has been shown in many museums and galleries across the country. Some of these exhibitions include:

• Outside the Main Stream: Folk Art in Our Time. (1988), High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA.
• Wrestling with History: A Celebration of African American Self-Taught Artists. (1996), Baruch College, New York.
• Southern Spirit: The Hill Collection. (2000), Museum of Art, Tallahassee, FL.
• Ancestry and Innovation. (2008), organized by the American Folk Art Museum.
• Revelations: Art from the African American South. (2018), Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.
• Called To Create: Black Artists of the American South. (2022–2023), National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.

Where to See His Art

You can find Thornton Dial Jr.'s work in the permanent collections of several major museums, including:

• Fine Art Museum of San Francisco
• American Folk Art Museum
• Ogden Museum of Southern Art
• National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
• Pérez Art Museum Miami