Elijah Pierce Folk Art Wood Sculpture

Item Details

Elijah Pierce (American, 1892 – 1984)
Untitled (Christ on the Cross), 1972
Carved and painted wood sculpture, embellished with glitter
Signed and dated to underside

A carved and painted wood sculpture by Columbus, Ohio folk artist Elijah Pierce. The sculpture depicts Christ on the cross. It is painted in palette of black, white and brown and characteristically adorned with glitter to the base and cross. The artwork is signed under the base, reading, ‘E. Pierce, 1972.’

Elijah Pierce is an internationally recognized wood carver. He was born of two former slaves in Baldwyn, Mississippi and died in Columbus, Ohio in 1984. He was a preacher and a barber by profession and lifelong passionate wood carver. He was recipient of National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship in 1982 for his contribution to the arts and woodcarving community as a master traditional artist. Many of Pierce’s artworks are inspired by his Christian faith and his childhood on a farm. His works are represented in galleries nationwide and he was awarded prizes internationally, including first place in the 1982 International Meeting of Naive Art in Zagreb, Yugoslavia.

Dimensions

Item #

18COL200-250