Museum Quality Painting by Purvis Young of Horses and Angel Faces, C. 1991, Signed, 37” X 47”

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Description

This exceptional painting is by celebrated American outsider artist Purvis Young (1943–2010) and was acquired directly from the artist at … Read more This exceptional painting is by celebrated American outsider artist Purvis Young (1943–2010) and was acquired directly from the artist at his Miami studio by Colin Fisher of Colin Fisher Studios.

What sets this particular work apart from many Purvis Young paintings is its excellent condition, substantial size, and highly desirable subject matter. Painted on plywood, it features two of Young’s most recognizable and sought-after recurring images: white horses and angel-like faces.

A large mixed-media work by Purvis Young sold at auction in Dania Beach, Florida, on December 5, 2023, for a reported hammer price of $350,000, demonstrating the significant collector interest that exceptional examples of Young’s work can command.

This painting incorporates Young’s characteristic use of house paint on panel and is signed at the lower center/right.

Dimensions: 34.5” H × 47” W
Condition: Both the artwork and frame are in excellent condition.

Purvis Young became one of the most important and recognizable figures in American outsider and self-taught art. His paintings have been exhibited extensively, written about in numerous books, and featured in documentary films. His work is represented in major museum collections throughout the United States, including the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, the American Folk Art Museum in New York, and the de Young Museum in San Francisco, among others.

Born in Miami in 1943, Young was largely self-taught. He became closely identified with Miami’s Overtown neighborhood, where he transformed discarded wood, doors, metal, and other found materials into expressive paintings depicting horses, angels, crowds, trucks, buildings, pregnant women, and scenes of struggle, hope, and everyday life.

Young’s work frequently addressed themes of poverty, social injustice, conflict, freedom, and redemption. His distinctive visual language—particularly his horses, angels, and densely populated street scenes—made his work immediately recognizable.

A Personal Story About Purvis

Colin Fisher, founder of Colin Fisher Studios—formerly in Miami, Florida, and later Cathedral City, California—became a good friend of Purvis Young and acquired this painting directly from him.

One day, Colin asked Purvis:

“Purvis, why do you paint the subjects you paint—horses, angel faces, even pregnant women?”

Purvis replied:

“I paint what I see on the streets of Miami.”

Colin responded, “Purvis, I’ve lived here in Miami for many years, and I’ve never seen a horse—and, frankly, not that many pregnant women.”

Purvis simply replied:

“That’s what I see, and that’s what I paint.”

That brief exchange perhaps says as much about Purvis Young as any formal biography could. He painted not necessarily what others saw, but what he saw in the world around him.

For the collector of Purvis Young, American outsider art, folk art, or self-taught American artists, this is a particularly appealing example combining strong provenance, excellent condition, substantial scale, and quintessential Purvis Young imagery.

A photograph of Purvis Young with Colin Fisher, along with the cover of one of the many books published about the artist, can be seen in the additional photographs accompanying this listing. See less