william sylvester carter
(AMERICAN, 1909-1996)
William Sylvester Carter, a gifted African American artist, left his native St. Louis in 1930 to pursue an art scholarship to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Remaining in Chicago after his studies at the AIC, he worked ardently against considerable odds and became a central figure in the Chicago Black Renaissance group of artists working in Bronzeville, a south side precinct of Chicago. The Chicago Black Renaissance was an analog to the Harlem Renaissance in New York City. His growing artistic stature placed him squarely in a circle with other fine African American artists such as Archibald Motley, Jr., William Edouard Scott, Charles White and Eldzier Cortor. This striking painting titled “POPS”-NITE (1954), depicts the boozy languor of cabaret nightlife in Chicago’s southside, a subject also favored by Archibald Motley, Jr., as evidenced by his celebrated painting titled Nightlife (1943), displayed in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Both these artists participated together in many important exhibitions. The monumental American Negro Exhibition of 1940, in Chicago, the first all Negro exhibition in America; Mr. Carter won first prize in watercolor with his "Study in Grey". A copy of this catalogue has been included on this page as well as an extensive bibliography of important exhibitions which featured his works. (Click on PDF'S below in red to view).
“POPS”-NITE
OIL ON BOARD
22”H X 30”W
DATED AND INSCRIBED ON REVERSE 6/54, SIGNED & TITLED CARTER L/L
*PRICE ON REQUESt
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