Artist

Russell Gillespie

born NC 1922
Media - portrait_image_113401.jpg - 90240
Photograph by Jeff Camp. Courtesy Jeff and Jane Camp Papers. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Born
North Carolina, United States
Active in
  • Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
  • Henderson County, North Carolina, United States
  • Madison County, North Carolina, United States
Nationalities
  • American
Biography

Russell Gillespie grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and has lived there his entire life. He spends his summer months "doing truck farming and raising tobacco" (American Folk Art Company, Virginia), but in the winter he carves sculptures from tree roots and burls. In 1950 he was ordained a Baptist minister and now preaches in small churches in Buncombe, Henderson, and Madison Counties.