William Artis Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids William Artis
William Artis at work
Born	February 2, 1914 Washington, North Carolina, US
Died	April 3, 1977
Alma mater	Art Students League of New York, Syracuse University
Known for	sculptor

William Ellisworth Artis (born February 2, 1914 – died April 3, 1977) was an African-American sculptor. He loved working with clay, which allowed him to create many different kinds of art. Later in his life, he focused more on making pottery.

Early Life and Education
Artistic Journey
Gallery
See also

Early Life and Education

William Artis was born in Washington, North Carolina, in 1914. When he was a teenager, he moved to New York City in 1927. He later studied at the Art Students League of New York and Syracuse University. At Syracuse, he learned from a famous sculptor named Ivan Meštrović.

Artistic Journey

William Artis was a student of Augusta Savage, a very important artist and teacher. He also showed his art with the Harmon Foundation, which helped promote African-American artists.

Featured in Film

In the 1930s, William Artis was featured in a film called A Study of Negro Artists. This film showed many talented artists connected to the Harlem Renaissance. Some of these artists included Richmond Barthé, Aaron Douglas, and Lois Mailou Jones.

Teaching and Service

After high school, Artis taught art at the Harlem YMCA. He also worked on art projects for the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This was a government program that helped artists during a tough economic time.

From 1941 to 1945, Artis served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, he continued his art studies and began teaching. He taught at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

Making Inroads in Art

In 1945, Artis had an important art show with fellow artists Romare Bearden and Selma Burke. This exhibit at the Albany Institute of History and Art helped more Black artists get their work shown in major galleries across the country.

Professor of Art

In 1954, William Artis became a teacher at Nebraska State Teachers College. From 1956 to 1966, he was a Professor of Ceramics there. He then taught at Mankato State College in Minnesota as a Professor of Art. He retired in 1975 due to health reasons. William Artis passed away in North Port, Long Island, New York, on April 3, 1977.