Creator Record
Metadata
Name |
Lonnie Holley |
Other names |
Lonnie B. Holley |
Dates & places of birth and death |
b. 1950 - Birmingham, Alabama |
Nationality |
American |
Occupation |
Excerpts of Lonnie Holley's biography from "Souls Grown Deep like the Rivers": "[Holley] experienced a difficult childhood: he was passed through several foster homes...suffered physical abuse, and served time in juvenile detention centers for petty crimes. Holley's art was initially borne out of family tragedy when, at the age of 29, he carved two gravestones for a niece and nephew who had died...Finding peace in the process, he continued to carve cast-off foundry stone, leading others to encourage him to share his work more widely. When he took samples...to the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama in 1981, three pieces were immediately included in an exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. Following this success, Holley's artistic practice evolved from stone carving to working with collected trash and material...He exhibited his collaged and sculptural creations all over his house and yard, his personal art environment, which was destroyed in 1997 after the Birmingham Airport Authority condemned the property. His oeuvre now includes drawing, photography, performance and sound, with his first album of music recorded at the age of 62. His work has been acquired by major collections including those of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, and the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, and is on permanent display in the United Nations building in NYC." This biography was written by Emma Yau for "Souls Grown Deep like the Rivers: Black Artists from the American South". |
Publications |
Featured artist in the publication "Souls Grown Deep like the Rivers: Black Artists from the American South", published by the Royal Academy of Arts. |
Places of residence |
Birmingham, Alabama |
Role |
Artist |
Related Records
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2021.005.007 - Sculpture
"Face" is a sculpture by Lonnie Holley made of wire shaped to create the contour lines of face profiles. The outermost profile is shaped with multiple black twisted wires. Within this outer structure lies a gray wire entwining the upper portions of the head suggestive of hair. A singular wire is shaped to form a smaller profile within the larger one. Lonnie Holley (b. 1950) is an Alabamian artist, musician, and filmmaker. Holley is known for ...
Record Type: Object
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2023.029.006 - Painting
This is painting of three abstracted faces. Two of the faces are smaller in size and are positioned along the bottom of the largest, central face. The central face features one visible almond-shaped eye, a pointed nose, and protruding lips. The eye has two tears (streaks of black of paint) falling from it. The majority of the face features blending hues, but there are smaller portions that were left unpainted. One such example is present along th...
Record Type: Object
