Ellis Wilson
Encyclopedia
Ellis Wilson was an African American
artist.
Wilson was born in Mayfield, Kentucky
. In 1916 he began attending Kentucky State College, moving in 1919 to study at the Chicago Art Institute. In 1928 he moved to Harlem, New York where he joined the Harlem Artists Guild and worked at a brokerage house. From 1941 to 1944 he worked in an aircraft engine factory. He was also commissioned to create triptych
s for US Army and Navy chaplains. In 1944 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship
and subsequently travelled through the southern United States. In 1952 he travelled to Haiti
, an experience which resulted in numerous paintings.
Although Wilson had several exhibitions and won several prizes for his paintings he never became wealthy. He died on either the 1st or 2 January 1977 and was buried in a pauper's grave. The exact date of his death and site of his grave are unknown.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
artist.
Wilson was born in Mayfield, Kentucky
Mayfield, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,349 people, 4,358 households, and 2,667 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.8 people per square mile . There were 4,907 housing units at an average density of 734.8 per square mile...
. In 1916 he began attending Kentucky State College, moving in 1919 to study at the Chicago Art Institute. In 1928 he moved to Harlem, New York where he joined the Harlem Artists Guild and worked at a brokerage house. From 1941 to 1944 he worked in an aircraft engine factory. He was also commissioned to create triptych
Triptych
A triptych , from tri-= "three" + ptysso= "to fold") is a work of art which is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all multi-panel works...
s for US Army and Navy chaplains. In 1944 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
and subsequently travelled through the southern United States. In 1952 he travelled to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, an experience which resulted in numerous paintings.
Although Wilson had several exhibitions and won several prizes for his paintings he never became wealthy. He died on either the 1st or 2 January 1977 and was buried in a pauper's grave. The exact date of his death and site of his grave are unknown.