U.S. Grant Tayes (October 26, 1885—June 15, 1972), was an American painter and watercolorist, active in Missouri from the 1930s through 1950s.[1] His artwork was centered around documenting his Black community in Missouri. He was a self-taught visual artist, who benefited from professional mentorship in his later life. Tayes also worked as a teacher, a barber, and a columnist. Other names used include Ulysses S. Grant Tayes, Ulysses Grant Tayes, and Ulysses Tayes.
U.S. Grant Tayes | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 26, 1885[1] Warrensburg, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | June 15, 1972 (aged 86)[1] Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Burial place | Longview Cemetery, Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Other names | Ulysses S. Grant Tayes, Ulysses Tayes |
| Education | Lincoln University |
| Occupation(s) | Visual artist, barber, musician, writer, educator |
| Years active | 1929–1950 |
| Known for | Painting, watercolor |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Aline Lane, Laura Alice Jackson, Lillian Lee |
| Children | 1 |
Early life and education
editU.S. Grant Tayes was born on October 26, 1885, in Warrensburg, Missouri into an African American family.[1][2] He found inspiration during his childhood in Warrensburg where he saw local painters at work, including George Probst and Walter Hout.[2]
He attended the HBU Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri and received a B.S. degree (1936) in education.[1] He married three times, to Mary Aline Lane, Laura Alice Jackson, and Lillian Lee; and had one daughter.
Career
editFrom 1929 until 1935, Tayes lived in St. Louis.[1] The “Tayes Art Museum” was the informal name of his in St. Louis barbershop at 122 North Third Street; he would display his artwork there.[1][3] He was a member of the St. Louis Society of Independent Artists.[1] Tayes was also a musician and performed on the local St. Louis radio station in the 1930s;[1] and was a columnist and wrote for the St. Louis Argus in the 1930s.[1] While living in St. Louis, he was mentored by artists Frederick C. Alston and Edmund H. Wuerpel.[1]
He moved to Jefferson City, Missouri in 1935, and remained there until 1950.[1] Tayes worked as a barber out of his home at 528 Lafayette Street in Jefferson City; in an African American neighborhood's commercial district (during racial segregation) called "The Foot".[4][5] His neighborhood "The Foot" was often the subject of his artwork, with works such as the Barber Shop (1947), and the Bar Scene.[1] His neighbor was noted businessman, Duke Diggs.[4][5] "The Foot" neighborhood of Jefferson City no longer exists, but it was unearthed during the Lafayette Street interchange construction in 2015.[5]
Tayes died on June 15, 1972, in Jefferson City.[1]
Exhibitions
edit- 1929, "Exhibition of the Work of Negro Artists" group exhibition by the Urban League of St. Louis, St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis, Missouri[1]
- 1930, "Exhibit of Fine Arts by American Negro Artists" group exhibition by Harmon Foundation
- 1932, "St. Louis Post-Dispatch Black and White Exhibition" by St. Louis Artists' Guild, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri[1]
- 1933, "1933 Exhibition of the Work of Negro Artists", group exhibition by Harmon Foundation at the Art Centre, New York City, New York[6]
- 1933, "5th Annual Art Exhibition for Negro Artists", group exhibition, St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis, Missouri; first prize winner[7]
- 1939, "15th Annual Art Exhibition of Negro Artists in Oil and Water Colors", group exhibition, St. Louis Urban Art League, St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, Missouri[8][9]
- 1944, "Exhibition of Paintings, Sculpture and Prints by Negro Artists", group exhibition by Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University), Atlanta, Georgia
- 1945, "Exhibition of Paintings, Sculpture and Prints by Negro Artists", group exhibition by Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University), Atlanta, Georgia[1]
- 2019, "Selections from the Melvin Holmes Collection of African American Art Exhibition", group exhibition by the Melvin Holmes Collection of African American Art, Tyler Fine Art[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Knuteson, John (2021). "U.S. Grant Tayes". Missouri Remembers. St. Louis, MO: The Kansas City Art Institute, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, The St. Louis Public Library. Archived from the original on 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
- ^ a b "Paintings by U.S. Grant Tayes, Former Porter, Wins Recognition". Daily Star-Journal. 1937-04-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-02-22 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Negro Artists: An Illustrated Review of Their Achievements. Harmon Foundation. Harmon Foundation Incorporated. 1935. p. 57.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b Brooks, Michelle (February 2022). Lost Jefferson City. Arcadia Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-4671-5035-4.
- ^ a b c Clark, Lauren (2015-05-31). "Archaeological pieces of African-American neighborhood unearthed". Jefferson City News-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
- ^ Exhibition of Work by Negro Artists. New York City, New York: Harmon Foundation. 1933 – via The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- ^ "Prize Winners In Art Exhibition Announced". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. 1933-06-30. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-02-22 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jackson, Helen S. (1939-12-08). "Here And There". The St. Louis Argus. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-02-22 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Urban League Sponsors Oil and Water Color Exhibit". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1939-12-03. p. 18. Retrieved 2024-02-22 – via Newspapers.com.
Further reading
edit- Collegian: Lincoln University. Lincoln University (Jefferson City, Mo.). Lincoln University. 1930. p. 25.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)