Artist

Prophet” William J. Blackmon

born Albion, MI 1921-died Detroit, MI 2010
Also known as
  • William Blackmon
Born
Albion, Michigan, United States
Died
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Active in
  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Biography

A folk artist and self-proclaimed preacher, William Blackmon's first paintings were the signs he made to advertise his shoe repair shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was encouraged to begin painting seriously when a passerby purchased one of his signs. Blackmon used inexpensive materials such as scraps of wood found in dumpsters and household paint straight from the can. Friends and followers gave the artist the name "Prophet" after a number of his predictions about future events came true. In 1974, Blackmon founded the Revival Center and Shoe Repair Shop in Milwaukee, where he lived, preached, painted, and repaired shoes. His work focused on religious subjects and often tackled the themes of heaven and hell. (Chuck and Jan Rosenak, Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth-century American Folk Art and Artists, 1990)

Works by this artist (4 items)

Sigmund Abeles, Untitled, n.d., etching, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1968.109.2
Untitled
Daten.d.
etching
Not on view
Sigmund Abeles, Self-Portrait with Saddles, 1972, lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Frederick P. Nause and Rebecca Nause, 1973.176.2
Self-Portrait with Saddles
Date1972
lithograph on paper
Not on view
Sigmund Abeles, Saddle/Soap, 1972, lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Frederick P. Nause and Rebecca Nause, 1973.176.1
Saddle/​Soap
Date1972
lithograph on paper
Not on view