William Ellisworth Artis (February 2, 1914 – April 3, 1977)''Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010''"Gifted Hands, William Artis"
African American Registry. was an

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

sculptor, whose favorite medium was clay. The freedom of modeling gave him a broad range of expression. During the latter part of his life, he began to focus on potting.Heralds of Life: Artis, Bearden and Burke, 4–30 November 1977, by Norman E. Pendergraft, Museum of Art, North Carolina Central University; Evans-Tibbs Collection, Artist file: NC-Central University. National Gallery of Art Library, Washington D.C.

Biography

Born in

Washington, North Carolina Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States, located on the northern bank of the Pamlico River. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County. It is commonly known as "Original Wa ...

, he moved to New York as a teen in 1927. Professor Artis died at North Port , Long Island, New York on April 3, 1977.

Career

He was a pupil of

Augusta Savage Augusta Savage (born Augusta Christine Fells; February 29, 1892 – March 27, 1962) was an American sculptor associated with the Harlem Renaissance. She was also a teacher whose studio was important to the careers of a generation of artists who w ...

and exhibited with the

Harmon Foundation The Harmon Foundation was established in 1921 by wealthy real-estate developer and philanthropist William E. Harmon (1862–1928). A native of the Midwest, Harmon's father was an officer in the 10th Cavalry Regiment. The Foundation originally su ...

. He was featured in the 1930s film ''

A Study of Negro Artists ''A Study of Negro Artists'' is a silent film in black and white on four reels that was created in the 1930s to highlight the development of African-American fine arts. The film features many influential black artists associated with the Harlem ...

'', along with Savage and other artists associated with the

Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural revival of African American music, dance, art, fashion, literature, theater, politics and scholarship centered in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, spanning the 1920s and 1930s. At the t ...

, including

Richmond Barthé James Richmond Barthé, also known as Richmond Barthé (January 28, 1901 – March 5, 1989) was an African-American sculptor associated with the Harlem Renaissance. Barthé is best known for his portrayal of black subjects. The focus of his arti ...

, James Latimer Allen,

Palmer Hayden Palmer C. Hayden (January 15, 1890 – February 18, 1973) was an American painter who depicted African-American life, landscapes, seascapes, and African influences. He sketched, painted in both oils and watercolors, and was a prolific artis ...

, Aaron Douglas,

William Ellisworth Artis William Ellisworth Artis (February 2, 1914 – April 3, 1977)''Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010''

Lois Mailou Jones Lois Mailou Jones (1905-1998) was an artist and educator. Her work can be found in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum o ...

, and

Georgette Seabrooke Georgette Seabrooke (aka Georgette Seabrooke Powell; August 2, 1916 – December 27, 2011), was an American muralist, artist, illustrator, art therapist, non-profit chief executive and educator. She is best known for her 1936 mural, ''Recreation ...

. He taught at the Harlem YMCA after finishing high school, then was involved with Works Progress Administration's artists project. From 1941 to 1945, he served in the U.S. Army during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. After the war, he earned his academic degrees. Artis studied at the

Art Students League of New York The Art Students League of New York is an art school at 215 West 57th Street in Manhattan, New York City, New York. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists. Although artists may stu ...

and

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

, where he worked with

Ivan Meštrović Ivan Meštrović (; 15 August 1883 – 16 January 1962) was a Croatian sculptor, architect, and writer. He was the most prominent modern Croatian sculptor and a leading artistic personality in contemporary Zagreb. He studied at Pavle Bilinić's ...

. After leaving Syracuse, he taught at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. In 1945, Artis, with fellow artist

Romare Bearden Romare Bearden (September 2, 1911 – March 12, 1988) was an American artist, author, and songwriter. He worked with many types of media including cartoons, oils, and collages. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bearden grew up in New York City a ...

and

Selma Burke Selma Hortense Burke (December 31, 1900 – August 29, 1995) was an American sculptor and a member of the Harlem Renaissance movement. Burke is best known for a bas relief portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt which may have been the model ...

, were together in the landmark Albany Institute of History and Art exhibit and over the next decade found the black artist making inroads in national exhibits and major galleries. In 1954 he joined the faculty of Nebraska State Teachers College. He later taught at

Chadron State College Chadron State College is a public college in Chadron, Nebraska, US. It is one of three public colleges in the Nebraska State College System. It has open admission and an acceptance rate of 100%. According to College Factual, it has a six-year g ...

,Justin Haag
"Artis collection gaining significance"
Chadron State College, July 28, 2008. where from 1956 to 1966 he was Professor of Ceramics, and at Mankato State College, Minnesota, as Professor of Art until ill health forced him to retire in 1975.

Gallery

File:"Head of Dr. Louis Wright" - NARA - 559035.jpg, Portrait of

Louis T. Wright Louis Tompkins Wright, MD, FACS (July 23, 1891 – October 8, 1952) was an American surgeon and civil rights activist. In his position at Harlem Hospital he was the first African-American on the surgical staff of a non-segregated hospital in New ...

File:"A Decorative Head" - NARA - 559036.jpg, Decorative Head File:"Head-Terra Cotta" - NARA - 559037.tif, Head in terracotta

References

Biography
at the African American Registry {{DEFAULTSORT:Artis, William 1914 births 1977 deaths People from Washington, North Carolina African-American sculptors Sculptors from North Carolina Art Students League of New York alumni Syracuse University alumni Chadron State College faculty Minnesota State University, Mankato faculty 20th-century American sculptors 20th-century American male artists American male sculptors Sculptors from New York (state) 20th-century African-American artists