Walter Ellison facts for kids

Walter Ellison (1899–1977) was an African American artist. He was born in the state of Georgia. Even though the American Civil War ended in 1865, African Americans still faced many challenges. Around the year 1900, many left the South. They moved North to find better chances. Walter Ellison was one of these people.

Walter Ellison's Early Life

Walter Ellison was born in Eatonton, Georgia. Records show he worked on a farm when he was young. In 1917, when he was 18, the United States joined World War I. Travel from Europe to the U.S. almost stopped. Because of this, many African Americans moved within the country.

The Great Migration North

Between 1916 and 1970, about seven million African Americans left the South. This big move is known as the Great Migration. Around half a million of them went to Chicago. They hoped to find jobs and new chances there. Ellison took a train to Chicago in the early 1920s. He wanted to get an education and a job.

Art School and Community Work

In Chicago, Walter Ellison took classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). He also studied at Hull House, a famous community center. He worked for the Illinois Art Project. This project was part of the WPA, a government program. Ellison also helped start the South Side Community Art Center. He worked with other young Black artists there. These artists included Margaret Burroughs, Eldzier Cortor, Gordon Parks, Charles Sebree, and Charles White. Ellison also became involved in the Civil Rights Movement. This movement worked for equal rights for all people.

Walter Ellison's Art and Themes

Ellison is known for his smaller artworks. These paintings show the everyday lives of African Americans. They often show people who moved from the rural South to northern cities. This happened between World War I and World War II. His art helps us understand their shared experiences.

Famous Painting: Train Station

One of his most famous paintings is Train Station. It is kept at the Art Institute of Chicago. The painting shows a train station platform in Macon, Georgia. On one side, white people are heading South for vacations. African Americans are carrying their bags for them. On the other side, African Americans are carrying their own luggage. They are getting on a train heading North. This shows them starting a new life.

Untitled Painting: A Moment of Calm

In 1937, Ellison created an untitled painting. It shows an African American woman relaxing in a beauty salon chair. Her eyes are closed, and someone is massaging her temples. Only the beautician's hands are visible. The beautician's nails have a "French manicure" style. This style has red centers with white tips. The artist clearly found this detail interesting. The woman in the painting looks very peaceful. She seems far away from any worries she might have had that day.