Image 1 of 6
Image 2 of 6
Image 3 of 6
Image 4 of 6
Image 5 of 6
Image 6 of 6
Date 1960s
Classification Painting
Medium Oil on masonite board
Dimensions 16 ¾ × 19 ¼ in. (42.6 × 48.9 cm)
Frame 19 ¾ × 22 ½ in. (50.2 × 57.2 cm)
Inscriptions Signed (lower left)
Born 1912 in Detroit, MI
Walter Sanford
Known as the “Black Picasso”, Walter Sanford’s impact on American art must not be understated. He had his first major solo exhibition at only 18 years old. He opened Detroit’s first black-owned art gallery and exhibited in the first Negro Art Exhibition. Sanford was an integral part of the second Wave of the Black Chicago Renaissance. He operated a long-time studio there, spent nights sketching at Club DeLisa, and painted entertainers like Billie Holiday and Roberta Flack.
Died 1987 in Chicago, IL
Major Exhibits:
Chicago History Museum
Detroit Institute of Art
Stuttgart Museum (Germany)
South Side Community Art Center
