Creator Record
Metadata
Name |
Tarver, Willie |
Dates & places of birth and death |
B. 1932, Bartow, Georgia D. 2010 |
Nationality |
African American |
Notes |
Georgia artist Willie Tarver found his artistic calling late in life: he started making art only after spending twenty-five years as a refrigerator repairman. He began by sculpting tombstones out of concrete before moving to painted cement figures created over scrap metal armatures. Eventually, Tarver stopped working with cement altogether and focused solely on the welded armatures themselves. His experimentations continued when he was joined by his wife of 55 years, Mae. Together, they built gracefully angular figures and painted tin cut-outs. Tarver attributed most of his ideas to Greek mythology, the bible, and occasionally his voodoo heritage. |
Relationships |
Made art with his wife, Mae Tarver. |
Role |
Artist |
