American Art
American painting is the focus of the Georgia Museum of Art’s collection of American art, which began with a donation of 100 American paintings by the museum’s founder. Nineteenth-century works include those by George Cooke, Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, George Inness, Elizabeth Jane Gardner, James McNeill Whistler, Childe Hassam and Frederick Frieseke. The collection is especially strong in early-20th-century paintings with important works by, among others, Stuart Davis, Reginald Marsh, Georgia O’Keeffe, Ben Shahn, Jacob Lawrence and Andrew Wyeth. Late-20th-century painters in the collection include Charles Burchfield, Alice Neel, Helen Frankenthaler and Elaine de Kooning, and the museum continues to acquire works, including those made in the 21st century. A gift by Larry and Brenda Thompson of 100 works by African American artists immeasurably enhanced the American art collection and has its own section on this website.
Works on Paper
The museum has an exemplary collection of works on paper ranging from the 16th through 20th centuries, including prints, drawings, watercolors and photographs. These holdings are especially strong in American art from the 1930s and early 1940s, including many Works Progress Administration prints.
Self-Taught Artists
Works by self-taught artists (also referred to as folk art, vernacular art and outsider art) are a recent emphasis of the Georgia Museum of Art’s collecting philosophy. Major gifts by collectors Gordon W. Bailey, Carl Mullis and Ronald and June Shelp have included works by Minnie Adkins, Andrea Badami, Thornton Dial, Howard Finster, Denzil Goodpaster, Joe Light, Charlie Lucas, R.A. Miller, Royal Robertson, Sulton Rogers, O.L. Samuels, Mary T. Smith, Mose Tolliver and Purvis Young. These works have served as the basis of several exhibitions with accompanying award-winning publications, including “Amazing Grace: Self-Taught Artists from the Mullis Collection” and “Lord Love You: Works by R.A. Miller from the Mullis Collection.” Several large works are on display in the museum’s permanent collection galleries.