† Jimmy Lee Sudduth
(American/Alabama, 1910-2007)
"Cabin (Truck verso)"
"Figure"
two paint, sweet mud and mixed medias on plywood
each signed upper or lower edge.
23-3/4" x 22-1/4" and 23-3/4" x 23-3/4", respectively
The self-taught African American artist Jimmy Lee Sudduth used pigments he gathered from nature and preferred painting with his fingers rather than brushes. Sudduth grew up on a farm in Cains Ridge with his adoptive parents, who worked as itinerant farm laborers. His mother was a practitioner of herbal medicine, who often brought him along as she gathered materials from the woods. These sojourns with his mother gave him inspiration to use resources from nature in his paintings. He favored using “sweet mud” for its color and texture which he created by adding sugar to mud.

Sudduth spent most of his life in and around his hometown of Fayette, working on farms, grist mill, lumber mill and as a gardener. His paintings reflect his personal experiences and memories of life in rural Alabama. Sudduth never learned to read or write but he could "draw” his name on his paintings.

Sudduth was included in the landmark exhibition "Passionate Visions of the American South: Self-Taught Artists from 1940 to the Present" organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art in 1994 and became their artist in residence.

Generally good condition with a few surface scratches. Any anomalies innate to material and method. New Orleans Auction Galleries is pleased to issue and opinion of any lot; the absence of a condition report does not indicate that a lot is perfect condition or free from damage and/or wear.  Please understand that New Orleans Auction Galleries employs no professional conservators. All statements in any condition report, or statements taken verbally, are purely our best opinions, and not blanket statements of fact issued by this auction house.  Prospective buyers should examine each lot so as to satisfy themselves concerning condition, genuineness, importance, age, etc. Regardless of any statements made in writing or verbally, all lots are sold strictly "As Is" in accordance with section 2 of our Conditions of Sale.  No returns will be accepted on the basis of condition.