Artist: Purvis Young
Title: Two Untitled Works
Medium: Mixed Media on Masonite
Size: 17.75" x 35.75" (overall)
Year: C. 1995-2010
Condition: In the style of found art with characteristic marks and textures typical of Young's mixed media practice
Inscription: Each work signed "Young" on front
Documentation: Includes a Certificate of Authenticity from the Purvis Young Foundation
Purvis Young's pair of two untitled works mounted on masonite reflects the artist's distinctive use of found and repurposed materials, combining expressive brushwork with an improvisational approach to composition. On the left, a group of silhouetted figures is painted in loose strokes of black, green, and red against a background of pale pink, white, and green. Their rhythmic arrangement evokes procession or gathering, a recurring motif in Young's work that points to themes of community and collective experience. Above the scene, the artist's signature "Young" is inscribed in black. The right-hand panel features elongated figures painted in black with yellow-green highlights, framed by patterned brush marks in black that create a border around the central imagery. This composition, also signed on the front, underscores Young's interest in repetition, rhythm, and the symbolic weight of human presence.
Both works are integrated within a larger painted field of white, black, and gray brushstrokes that cover the masonite support. The resulting assemblage exemplifies Young's practice of layering and juxtaposing surfaces, embracing the visible wear and irregularities of found materials as part of the work's meaning and texture.
This pair of untitled Pruvis Young original paintings embodies the artist's engagement with urban life, memory, and spirituality, expressed through materials sourced from his immediate environment. The piece is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from the Purvis Young Foundation.
About Purvis Young
Purvis Young (1943–2010) was a self-taught American artist renowned for his expressive depictions of urban life, social struggles, and spiritual themes. Born in Liberty City, Miami, Florida, he was introduced to art by his uncle, a local sign painter. Despite limited formal education—he did not attend high school—Young's artistic journey began in earnest during his incarceration at Raiford State Penitentiary from 1961 to 1964, where he rediscovered his passion for drawing and immersed himself in art history through library books.
Upon his release, Young settled in the Overtown neighborhood of Miami, where he became a prominent figure in the local art scene. In 1971, he began creating murals on the boarded-up storefronts of Goodbread Alley, a space slated for demolition. These murals, often painted on found materials like scrap wood and discarded books, featured recurring motifs such as angels, wild horses, and urban landscapes, reflecting his observations of the world around him.
Young's work gained national attention, leading to exhibitions at institutions like the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Centre Pompidou. His art also attracted a diverse group of patrons, including Jane Fonda, Damon Wayans, and Jim Belushi . In 2018, he was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to American art.
Despite facing personal and financial challenges later in life, Young's legacy endures through his powerful visual storytelling and the continued appreciation of his work in public and private collections worldwide.
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