Erma "Junior" Lewis Polychrome Wooden Folk Art Sculpture of the Garden of Eden

Item Details

Wood

A carved wooden polychrome folk art sculpture of the Garden of Eden, created in 1990 by Kentucky outsider artist Erma ‘Junior’ Lewis. The piece depicts the Biblical tale from Genesis, with Eve offering the forbidden fruit to Adam, as the serpent hovers nearby in the branches of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. An array of animals including a tiger, goat, elephant, giraffe and skunk, among others, gather around the scene and watch expectantly. The work is finished in colorful painted hues and is mounted to a green painted wooden base which is signed by hand ‘Jr. Lewis 90’ to the underside.

Isonville, Kentucky folk artist Erma ‘Junior’ Lewis (1948 – 1999) was a tobacco farmer who began his art career in 1987. He was known both for his unconventional style and methods, sometimes utilizing a chainsaw in the early stages of his work. His colorful stylized sculptures depict religious themes including Bible stories, devils and totems. His works have been exhibited at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, and one of his Last Supper sculptures is included at the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. For more information about Lewis, please refer to the links below.

Condition

- minor surface wear, accretion and markings.

Dimensions

Item #

18LEX025-113

Additional Information

"LAST SUPPER" at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, "Home Away Home" Exhibit at the KMAC Museum