William Pajaud facts for kids

William Etienne "Bill" Pajaud (born August 3, 1925 – died June 16, 2015) was an amazing African-American artist. He mostly painted with watercolors. He was famous for his paintings about jazz music. Bill Pajaud was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He passed away in Los Angeles, California, when he was 89 years old. He also helped build a huge art collection for an insurance company.

Bill Pajaud's Early Life and School

Bill Pajaud's father was a jazz musician. He often played music at funerals to earn money. His mother was a trained pharmacist. But, because she was an African American woman, it was hard for her to find work.

Bill Pajaud studied art at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. He earned his fine arts degree in 1941. In the early 1940s, Pajaud moved to Chicago. There, he worked as a sign painter and designer.

In 1949, he moved to Los Angeles. He went to the Chouinard Art Institute to study graphic design.

Bill Pajaud's Art Career

Bill Pajaud was a member of several art groups. These included the Society of Graphic Designers and the Los Angeles County Art Association. He was also part of the National Watercolor Society. He even served as its president from 1974 to 1975.

He was also part of an artists' group called Eleven Associated. This group later became the Art West Association. Other artists in this Los Angeles co-op included Beulah Woodard, Alice Taylor Gafford, and Tyrus Wong.

Pajaud's watercolor paintings showed things from his life. He painted scenes inspired by his childhood in New Orleans. He also painted things from his adult life in Chicago and Los Angeles. His art often featured full-figured African American women, jazz funerals, and busy street scenes.

Where Bill Pajaud's Art Was Shown

Bill Pajaud's art was shown in many places. Here are some of the exhibitions:

• 'Now Dig This!: Art and Black Los Angeles 1960–1980' at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, in 2011.
• 'The Life and Art of William Pajaud' at M. Hanks Gallery, Santa Monica, in 2003.
• 'William Pajaud: The Sights and Sounds of My New Orleans' at the California African American Museum, Los Angeles, in 2000.
• 'Psalms, Sermons & Rituals: William Pajaud' at Brockman Gallery, Los Angeles, in 1981.
• 'California Black Artists' at the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, in 1977.
• 'Suzanne Jackson/William Pajaud/Charles White' at Haggin Art Galleries, Pioneer Museum, Stockton, California, in 1975.
• 'Black American Artists '71' in Chicago, in 1971.

You can find Bill Pajaud's art in many museum collections. Some of these include the Pushkin Museum, the Amistad Research Center, the Las Vegas Art Museum, and the California African American Museum. His work is also at the Hunter Museum and the National Museum of American Art.

The Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Art Collection

Bill Pajaud worked for the black-owned Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company starting in 1957. He worked in design and public relations. In 1965, he became an adviser for their art collection. He helped them buy artworks from other African-American artists.

He started with a small budget. But he helped the company collect art from many famous artists. These included Jacob Lawrence, Charles White, Betye Saar, Elizabeth Catlett, Richmond Barthé, Hale Woodruff, Charles Alston, Varnette P. Honeywood, David Hammons, Romare Bearden, John Biggers, Samella Lewis, Henry Ossawa Tanner, and Willie Middlebrook. The collection also included some of Pajaud's own paintings.

This collection grew to over 200 artworks. It became the largest collection of corporate-owned African American art in the U.S. Pajaud said that building this collection was what he was most proud of in his career.

What Happened to the Collection?

In 2007, the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company closed down. A large part of their art collection was sold at an auction. Bill Pajaud asked people to "Take care of the work and take care of the concept of the people." He wanted the art to be seen and loved by everyone.

After his plea, Los Angeles County bought 124 of these artworks. Some of these pieces are now on display in public places. You can see them at the AC Bilbrew Library, the Willowbrook Senior Center, the View Park Bebe Moore Campbell Library, and the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration.

Awards Bill Pajaud Received

Bill Pajaud received many awards for his work. Here are some of them:

• 1969 PRSA Art Exhibition Award of Merit
• 1971 National Association of Media Women Communications Award
• 1975 University of the Pacific Honor
• 1978 Paul Robeson Special Award for Contribution to the Arts
• 1981 PR News Gold Key Award
• 1981 League of Allied Arts Corporation Artists of Achievement Award
• 2004 Samella Award