Charles Wilbert White
| Charles White | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Charles Wilbert White, Jr. April 2, 1918 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Died | October 3, 1979 (aged 61) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | The Art Institute of Chicago |
| Known for | Painting |
Charles Wilbert White (April 2, 1918 – October 3, 1979) was an American artist known for his WPA era murals. White's best known work is The Contribution of the Negro to American Democracy, a mural at Hampton University.
Charles Wilbert White was born on April 2, 1918 to Ethel Gary, a domestic servant, and Charles White Sr, a railroad and construction worker, on the South Side of Chicago. White's mother bought him an oil paint set when White was seven years old, which hooked White on art and painting. White also played music as a child, studied modern dance, and was part of theatre groups; however, he stated that art was his true passion.
White's mother brought the young White to the Art Institute of Chicago, where he would read and look at paintings—developing a particular interest in the works of Winslow Homer and George Inness. During the Great Depression, White tried to conceal his art passion in fear of embarrassment; however, this ended when White got a job painting signs at the age of fourteen. Since White had little money growing up, he often painted on whatever surfaces he could find including shirts, cardboard, and window blinds. White later learned how to mix paints by sitting in on an Art Institute of Chicago painting class that was taking place at a park near his home in Chicago.
White did not graduate from high school, since he had flunked a year due to his refusal to attend class. Despite this, White received a full scholarship to be a full-time student at the Art Institute of Chicago. While in school, White cited Mitchell Siporin, Francis Chapin, and Aaron Bohrod as his influences. To pay the costs of materials in art school, White became a cook, using his mother's instruction and recipes. White later became an art teacher at St. Elizabeth Catholic High School to pay for his material costs. White also began working as a Works Progress Administration artist.
...
Wikipedia