Untitled [Woman standing under an American flag]

More Information

David Butler’s wild and fantastical sculptures include menageries of real and imagined animals, whirligigs and biblical scenes. Like many self-trained artists, he used the materials at hand—in this case flattened tin roofing panels and housepaint—to fashion his works. Butler uses these constructions as spirit shields to keep unfriendly spirits away. The use of his work as charms or “mojos” refers to the African heritage that influences many Southern self-taught, African American artists.

Keywords

Folk Art
African American
Sculpture
Tin
United States