Highlighting his distinctive figurative drawings, this original Purvis Young is created in the artist's noteworthy earth tone pallet. Young is well known for his mix of techniques and mediums in a single work, and here we see both ink and crayon used to create a uniquely textured and multi-layered drawing. This figurative drawing is signed by the artist and comes with a certificate of authenticity from Modern Artifact. Due in large part to their deceptively simple designs, Purvis Young originals can be notoriously difficulty to authenticate; Modern Artifact has a full record of provenance for this piece.
With his self-taught background and unique blend of styles, materials, and techniques, Purvis Young is a quintessential example of the contemporary artist. Originally from the Overtown neighborhood in Miami, Florida, his home experience is an important recurring theme throughout his body of work. Although he was self-taught as an artist, Young was inspired by a wide range of artistic influences, ranging from American Western Art to Rembrandt.
With a style often compared to finger painting, Purvis Young’s art appears deceptively simple at first glance. The artist often mixes techniques including painting, drawing, and collage, and has been credited with influencing the Social Expressionism and Urban Expressionism movements. His artwork often features horses, angels, and urban landscapes. Urbanism, the African American experience, the American South, and Historical events and historical oppression in particular are all important messages in his artwork.
Purvis Young found artistic acclaim among both collectors, including Jane Fonda and Jim Belushi, as well as museums, including the American Folk Art Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Purvis Young passed away in 2010, leaving behind a profound legacy of significant art an important social discourse.