Amos Ferguson

Amos Ferguson (February 28, 1920 – October 19, 2009) was a Bahamian folk artist. He was known for his brilliantly colored Bible stories and Bahamian scenes. He was nicknamed the "Picasso of Nassau".[1]

Amos Ferguson
Born(1920-02-28)February 28, 1920
Exuma, Bahamas
DiedOctober 19, 2009(2009-10-19) (aged 89)
Nassau, Bahamas
NationalityBahamian
Known forfolk art

Life

Amos Ferguson was born on February 28, 1920 in Exuma, Bahamas.[2] His father was a preacher, carpenter, and farmer.[2][3] He was one of fourteen children.[2]

Ferguson worked as an upholsterer, furniture finisher, artist and house painter. He wasn't trained as an artist, and was known as an outsider artist. Ferguson often said "I paint by faith, not by sight". His paintings, which have sold for as much as US $45,000, are displayed in galleries in the Bahamas, the United States, and in museums, and art galleries around the world.

In 2005, the street where he lived in Nassau was renamed "Amos Ferguson Street".

He died in Nassau on October 19, 2009.[4]

Work

Ferguson was known for his brilliantly colored Bible stories and Bahamian scenes. Ferguson was a house painter by trade and did not become an artist until he was in his 40s.[4] As he told the story, his nephew came to him and related a dream that he had just had. Jesus, the nephew said, came out of the sea with the picture in his hands and said that Ferguson was wasting his talent in painting. Ferguson heeded the call and painting with exterior enamel on cardboard, rendered Bible stories or Bahamian stories in Caribbean visual idiom.

He began showing at Bahamian galleries in 1972. Widespread recognition came to him in 1978 when Sukie Miller, an American collector, bought some of his paintings.[5] His art debuted in the U.S. with a 1985 exhibition at the Wadsworth Atheneum, which featured 50 of his paintings.[6] His images were later used to illustrate "Under the Sunday Tree" (1991), a collection of poetry by Eloise Greenfield.[7] Ferguson's official Art Gallery is located in Nassau, Bahamas. He often titled his paintings using poor grammar and misspellings. He always signed his paintings with the phrase "Paint by Mr. Amos Ferguson".

References
  1. Smith, Roberta (January 8, 2009). "Where Outsiders Come in From the Cold (Published 2009)". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  2. Murphy, Barbara Thrash; Murphy, Deborah L. (December 21, 2006). Black Authors and Illustrators of Books for Children and Young Adults. Routledge. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-135-87355-4.
  3. "Amos Ferguson". National Art Gallery of the Bahamas (NAGB). Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  4. Grimes, William (October 29, 2009). "Amos Ferguson, 89, Bahamian Artist, Is Dead". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  5. Ahner, Laurie (2010). Amos Ferguson: The Master of Color. Galerie Bonheur Publications. pp. 6–8. ISBN 978-1300881667.
  6. "Amos Ferguson | CAB Gallery and Studio". Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  7. Greenfield, Eloise (1991). Under the Sunday Tree. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0064432573.


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