Sold at Auction: William Tolliver

Notable African-American artist William Tolliver was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1951. Though he lacked formal education and grew up impoverished, he went on to teach himself art through books he found in the library and those brought to him by his mother. His mother, who loved to draw, encouraged his painting after she noticed his talent. Using inexpensive oil pastels and watercolor sets, painter William Tolliver recreated his everyday environment growing up in Mississippi.

Artist William Tolliver's paintings depict farmers, cotton pickers in the field, mothers and children, and street musicians. Bright, color-rich palettes and abstract style elements are common in William Tolliver's African American paintings for sale. Immerse yourself in decades of rich cultural heritage by viewing many captivating mid-century African American paintings online at Invaluable.