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
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.

Works by this artist (1 item)

Russell Gillespie, House, ca. 1972, wood with leather and string, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.249
House
Artist
Dateca. 1972
wood with leather and string
On view