Knoxville in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Beauford Delaney

(Knoxville 1901-1979 Paris)

Photographed By Tom Bosse, April 15, 2023

1. Beauford Delaney Marker

Inscription.

Beauford Delaney. (Knoxville 1901-1979 Paris). Yadoo, 1950. Pastel on paper, 18 x 24 inches, Knoxville Museum of Art, 2017 purchase with funds provided by the Rachael Patterson Young Art Acquisition Reserve. All images © Estate of Beauford Delaney, by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire, Court Appointed Administrator. Internationally acclaimed modern artist Beauford Delaney was born in 1901 in a small wooden house on Knoxville’s East Vine Street. His father was a Methodist preacher and ran a barber shop to make ends meet. Beauford always loved to draw, even in school, and one of his early works was a portrait of his Austin High School principal, Charles Cansler., As a teenager, he found work as a sign painter and impressed Lloyd Branson, Knoxville’s most successful artist at the time. Branson offered to give him lessons in painting in return for mixing paints and helping out in the Gay Street studio. Working for Branson and painter Hugh Tyler (uncle of the writer James Agee) helped pay Beauford’s way to Boston, where he studied art from 1923-1929., Settling in New York by 1929, Delaney became known for colorful street scenes of Greenwich Village and portraits of several major figures, including W.E.B DuBois, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and W.C. Handy. He became close friends with writers henry Miller and James Baldwin. In 1930, when Delaney was still in his 20s, the Whitney Studio Galleries (precursor of the Whitney Museum of American Art) in New York presented a small one-person exhibition of his work that received critical acclaim., In 1953, Delaney moved to Paris and explored the Abstract Expressionism – especially the expressive power of color. As his friend James Baldwin wrote, it was “a metamorphosis into freedom.” Delaney’s exuberant oils with vibrant colors have earned him a reputation as one of America’s greatest modern painters., Beauford Delaney died in Paris in 1979. A Paris-based group called Les Amis de Beauford Delaney attend to his gravesite and his legacy. The largest of most comprehensive public collection of Delaney’s work is housed at the Knoxville Museum of Art., This painting is featured in the Knoxville Museum of Art’s permanent exhibition, Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee., Downtown Art Wraps are coordinated by the Knoxville History Project, and educational nonprofit with a mission to research and promote the history and culture of Knoxville. KHP’s educational articles and publications feature colorful characters, bizarre tales, interesting buildings, curious traditions, as well as seriously influential local events. Learn more at knoxvillehistoryproject.org., Photo: Carl Van Vechten, Library of Congress .

Yadoo, 1950. Pastel on paper, 18 x 24 inches, Knoxville Museum of Art,
2017 purchase with funds provided by the Rachael Patterson Young Art Acquisition Reserve.
All images © Estate of Beauford Delaney, by permission of
Derek L. Spratley, Esquire, Court Appointed Administrator
Internationally acclaimed modern artist Beauford Delaney was born in 1901 in a small wooden house on Knoxville’s East Vine Street. His father was a Methodist preacher and ran a barber shop to make ends meet. Beauford always loved to draw, even in school, and one of his early works was a portrait of his Austin High School principal, Charles Cansler.

As a teenager, he found work as a sign painter and impressed Lloyd Branson, Knoxville’s most successful artist at the time. Branson offered to give him lessons in painting in return for mixing paints and helping out in the Gay Street studio. Working for Branson and painter Hugh Tyler (uncle of the writer James Agee) helped pay Beauford’s way to Boston, where he studied art from 1923-1929.

Settling in New York by 1929, Delaney became known for colorful street scenes of Greenwich Village and portraits of several major figures, including W.E.B DuBois, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and W.C. Handy. He became close friends with writers henry Miller and James

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

Baldwin. In 1930, when Delaney was still in his 20s, the Whitney Studio Galleries (precursor of the Whitney Museum of American Art) in New York presented a small one-person exhibition of his work that received critical acclaim.

In 1953, Delaney moved to Paris and explored the Abstract Expressionism – especially the expressive power of color. As his friend James Baldwin wrote, it was “a metamorphosis into freedom.” Delaney’s exuberant oils with vibrant colors have earned him a reputation as one of America’s greatest modern painters.

Beauford Delaney died in Paris in 1979. A Paris-based group called Les Amis de Beauford Delaney attend to his gravesite and his legacy. The largest of most comprehensive public collection of Delaney’s work is housed at the Knoxville Museum of Art.

This painting is featured in the Knoxville Museum of Art’s permanent exhibition,
Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee.

Downtown Art Wraps are coordinated by the Knoxville History Project,
and educational nonprofit with a mission to research and promote the
history and culture of Knoxville. KHP’s educational articles and
publications feature colorful characters, bizarre tales, interesting buildings,
curious traditions, as well as seriously influential local events. Learn more
at knoxvillehistoryproject.org.

Photo:

Photographed By Tom Bosse, April 15, 2023

2. Beauford Delaney Marker

Carl Van Vechten, Library of Congress

Erected by Knoxville History Project.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Knoxville History Project - Downtown Art Wraps series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1950.

Location. 35° 57.744′ N, 83° 54.689′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Knox County. Marker is at the intersection of East Hill Avenue and Volunteer Landing Lane, on the right when traveling east on East Hill Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Knoxville TN 37915, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Charles Krutch (within shouting distance of this marker); James White (within shouting distance of this marker); Earl O'Dell Henry (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Earl O'Dell Henry (about 500 feet away); Ruth Valeria Cobb Brice (about 700 feet away); Hugh Tyler (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chisholm Tavern (approx. 0.2 miles away); Signing of the Treaty of Holston (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knoxville.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 60 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 8, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.