Daniel Pressley (American/South Carolina, 1918-1971), "Step Child", carved and varnished wood relief plaque, signed lower right, titled lower left, typed address label with artist's name en verso, h. 20 in., w. 10 3/8 in., d. 1 in Condition: Light surface dirt; overall good. Note: Daniel Pressley created wood reliefs, sculptures and paintings that address the breadth and complexities of the urban African American experience. Born in South Carolina where his family had a farm, Pressley’s father was shot and killed by a white neighbor when he was young. Shortly afterwards, his mother also died, and he moved with his siblings to Ohio. Pressley later lived in New York City during the 1960s, where he started to carve and paint images that dealt with his experiences from his youth and as a Black man in Harlem. Even though he experienced firsthand the effects of racism, drug abuse and poverty, Pressley’s powerful carvings, such as the one on offer here, often display spontaneous moments of joy, particularly through music, singing and dancing. Ref.: Cavin, Shari. “Sweet and Bitter Street: A Daniel Pressley Retrospective.” Diggs Gallery, Winston Salem State University, 1999. condition

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