About William Ellsworth Artis

  • Biography

    Born in Washington, North Carolina, William Artis became a prominent Black-American ceramist, sculptor and teacher. He was best known for a series of terra cotta* and stoneware* heads of black youths, which he created in the 1930s and 1940s such as Head of a Girl, 1933, exhibited at the Harmon Foundation*, and Weariness, 1934, exhibited at the Salon of America* at Radio City Music Hall. Of these types of work, it was written that they are Art Deco in style and "typically have an introverted impassivity and a spiritual appeal." (James, 23)

    In 1933, Artis studied at the Art Students League* in New York City, where he won the Harmon Foundation Prize in 1933. He then served in the U.S. Army during World War ...

    But wait, there's more...

    Displaying 3,222 of 6,556 characters.

    Subscriber Members, please Sign In for full artist biographies and all services.

    For non-paying users, good news! Full text bios for all artists are available every Friday.

    If you are not currently a member, please See Details about membership.

** If you discover credit omissions or have additional information to add, please let us know at .

Share an image of the Artist: .