Collection Information
Size: 2 Items, (on partial microfilm reel)
Summary: Two ballpoint pen and felt-tip pen drawings by J. B. Murray.
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- J. B. Murray drawings, 1985
J. B. Murray drawings, 1985
Murry, J. B. (John B.), 1908-1988
Painter
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Overview
Biographical/Historical Note
Visionary artist from Athens, Georgia. Birthdate also cited as 1907. Also known as J.B. Murry. Raised in rural central Georgia. Untrained as an artist, he began drawing and painting when a dislocated hip forced him to retire from farming. Although unable to read and write in English, he developed his own codified use of colors and improvised script, called "spirit script," which he incorporated in his paintings as a visual element and which only he could translate. His work has been included in several Southern exhibitions of Black isolated artists.
Provenance
Donated 1985 by J. B. Murray.
Language Note
English .
How to Use This Collection
Alternative Forms Available
35mm microfilm reel 3667 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Restrictions on Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm. Contact Reference Services for more information.
How to Cite This Collection
J. B. Murray drawings, 1985. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.