Self-Portrait

William Dawson, Self-Portrait, ca. 1970 - 1980, painted wood, 18 1⁄4 × 5 1⁄2 × 2 3⁄4 in. (46.4 × 14 × 7 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Orren and Marilyn Bradley and Kohler Foundation, Inc., 2015.58.6

Artwork Details

Title
Self-Portrait
Artist
Date
ca. 1970 - 1980
Location
Dimensions
18 1⁄4 × 5 1⁄2 × 2 3⁄4 in. (46.4 × 14 × 7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Orren and Marilyn Bradley and Kohler Foundation, Inc.
Mediums Description
painted wood
Classifications
Subjects
  • Occupation — art — artist
Object Number
2015.58.6
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2015.58.6

Artwork Description

William Dawson whittled sculptures of men and women using scrap wood found in alleys or on the street in his Chicago neighborhood. Limited only by his imagination, he used bold colors and materials such as chicken bones, glitter, and driftwood to add character to his pieces. In this self-portrait, he shows himself in a turquoise cardigan and blue pants. His brilliant eyes and wide-open mouth give the figure a highly animated effect, enhanced by movable arms attached to the body by nails. Dawson even hand-sewed the leather satchel wrapped around the figure’s waist.

Works by this artist (6 items)

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William Dawson, Totem, ca. 1975, acrylic and felt-tipped pen and ink on carved wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak, 1981.136.1
Totem
Artist
Dateca. 1975
acrylic and felt-tipped pen and ink on carved wood
On view
William Dawson, Self-Portrait, ca. 1970 - 1980, painted wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Orren and Marilyn Bradley and Kohler Foundation, Inc., 2015.58.6
Self-Portrait
Artist
Dateca. 1970 - 1980
painted wood
On view
William Dawson, Untitled (Lady), ca. 1970 - 1980, painted wood and hair, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Orren and Marilyn Bradley and Kohler Foundation, Inc., 2015.58.8
Untitled (Lady)
Artist
Dateca. 1970 - 1980
painted wood and hair
On view
William Dawson, Totem with Cane, 1978, carved and painted wood, metal, and plastic, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of David L. Davies, 1992.37.9A-B
Totem with Cane
Artist
Date1978
carved and painted wood, metal, and plastic
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

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Jesús Moroles, Lapstrake I, 1980, Georgia gray granite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alton and Emily Steiner, 2002.82
Lapstrake I
Artist
Date1980
Georgia gray granite
Not on view
John Safer, Chandelle, 1969, revised 2013, Lucite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2007.23
Chandelle
Artist
Date1969, revised 2013
Lucite
Not on view
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Shell), early 1930s, mixed media: paperboard, paper, shells, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 1985.64.37
Untitled (Shell)
Artist
Dateearly 1930s
mixed media: paperboard, paper, shells
Not on view
Emery Blagdon, The Healing Machine, ca. 1955-1986, mixed media, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment and gift of Dan Dryden, friend of Emery Blagdon, the Kohler Foundation, Inc., and John E. and Douglas O. Robson, from the Margaret Z. Robson Collection, VR.2014.49.GRP
The Healing Machine
Artist
Dateca. 1955-1986
mixed media
On view