About the Work
We are proud to have partnered with Souls Grown Deep Foundation and Marianne Boesky Gallery to release a print edition by the late Thornton Dial, the self-taught pioneering African-American artist. Living in rural Alabama for the entirety of his career, Dial worked primarily in three dimensions, creating intricately woven mixed-media sculptures from found materials. His complicated compositions swirl together vernacular objects with politically-charged titles that directly address the disparities found in American culture ranging from economic issues to women's rights, racism to politics. Dial's aesthetic has been oft-compared to his contemporaries, though his work was created in isolation from the art world and therefore bereft of its influence. While Dial's aesthetic may have unintentionally mirrored Abstract Expressionism, the motifs that recur throughout his oeuvre are singular, as well as pressingly relevant, as they echo the ongoing fight for equality demanded by today's civil rights activists. As Dial once explained to William Arnett, his longtime patron, "My art is the evidence of my freedom." In addition to his larger works, Dial created series of sinuous drawings, encapsulating the swirling energy of his mixed-media works through freely rendered graphite, watercolor, and pastel. In this vein, we present Happiness with Flowers by Thornton Dial, based on his drawing by the same name. This unsigned print is accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity and states that this edition was created in partnership with the artist's estate.
Artist Biography
Thornton Dial (b. 1928, Emelle, AL; d. 2016, McCalla, AL) was a self-taught pioneering American artist who created a diverse, prolific body of work. His work has been the subject of solo exhibitions at Blum & Poe (Los Angeles; forthcoming, 2023), Marianne Boesky Gallery (New York), Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts at University of Alabama (Birmingham), High Museum of Art (Atlanta), Indianapolis Museum of Art, New Orleans Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts (Houston), New Museum of Contemporary Art (New York), and American Folk Art Museum (New York), among many others. Select group exhibitions include presentations at The Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), The Studio Museum in Harlem (New York), and The Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, D.C.) and more. Numerous institutions hold Dial’s work in their collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), The Museum of Modern Art (New York) The Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), and The Philadelphia Museum of Art (Pennsylvania). Dial is survived by his four children, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Authentication & Resale
This work is accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity that states this edition was created in partnership with the artist's estate.
Be sure to keep your Certificate of Authenticity (COA) in a safe place. We are unable to replace or reissue COAs.
Framing
Framed artwork is custom framed once it is ordered. Allow 3-5 weeks for framing and delivery.
FRAME
All of our frames are made from sustainably sourced engineered hardwood that is manufactured in the USA. Frames are available in Black or White Matte and Walnut.
MAT
Prints are hinged to a conservation quality, acid-free and lignin-free Cellulose matboard, using acid-free polyethylene cloth tape. Each mat’s surface paper is fade and bleed resistant and is attached to a conversation quality foam-core board. Some of our work (typically those pieces with a deckled edge) is floated on the matboard with spacers to separate the artwork from the glazing.
GLAZING
We use museum quality .060 mm plexiglass to frame your work. It blocks 82-85% of UV rays to prevent color fading from exposure to light, protecting your art for years to come.
DIMENSIONS
Our White and Black frames have a ⅞” wide flat face and are 15/16” deep. Mats are 1” wide for prints up to 8” x 10”. Mats are 2” wide for prints larger than 8” x 10”.
Our Natural and Walnut frames have a ¾” wide flat face and are 1 ⅛” deep. Mats are 1” wide for prints up to 8” x 10”. Mats are 2” wide for prints larger than 8” x 10”.
Any artwork that is floated will be placed in a frame that has a ⅝” wide flat face and is 1 5/16” deep. Work will be floated with a 1” border around it.
Shippings & Returns
Unframed work ships within 5 business days of your order. Framed artwork is custom framed once it is ordered. Please allow 2-4 weeks for framing and delivery. Need it faster? Expedited options may be available by emailing service@exhibitiona.com. All work ships from the US. International customers are responsible for any customs, duty, or VAT charges.
If you change your mind after placing your order, please email us at service@exhibitiona.com within 24 hours. We will not be able to accommodate cancellations for framed orders after that time period (as your frame will have been ordered and cut within that time period). We may not be able to accommodate your request to cancel your order for an unframed work after 24 hours if it has been packaged and processed by our fulfillment center.
We are unable to accept returns on custom framed artwork. Our general policy is that we do not accept returns. If your print arrives damaged or does not meet your expectations, you may be eligible for a replacement or return. Any issues must be reported within 5 business days of receipt by emailing service@exhibitiona.com.