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'''Thornton Dial''' (born [[1928]] in Emelle, Sumter County; died [[January 25]], [[2016]] in [[Bessemer]]) was an internationally-known artist. Though he was self-taught and used found objects in his work, his art transcends the stereotypical limitations of "primitive" or "folk art".
[[File:Thornton Dial.jpg|right|thumb|Thornton Dial]]
'''Thornton Dial''' (born [[September 10]], [[1928]] in Emelle, Sumter County; died [[January 25]], [[2016]] in [[McCalla]]) was an internationally-known artist. Though he was self-taught and used found objects in his work, his art transcends the stereotypical limitations of "primitive" or "folk art".


Dial was the son of Mattie Bell and grew up on a farm owned by a cousin, Buddy Jake Dial, who made sculptures from items he found. When he was twelve he moved to [[Bessemer]] and went to work for the [[Pullman Company|Pullman-Standard Company]] building railroad cars.
Dial was the son of Mattie Bell and grew up on a farm owned by a cousin, Buddy Jake Dial, who made sculptures from items he found. When he was twelve he moved to [[Bessemer]] and went to work for the [[Pullman Company|Pullman-Standard Company]] building railroad cars.
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Through fellow artist [[Lonnie Holley]], Dial's work came to the attention of Atlanta collector Bill Arnett in [[1987]]. Arnett began championing it to larger audiences as part of his interest in documenting, promoting and supporting African-American vernacular art from the South. In later years, critics have rejected the notion that Dial's work should be understood within the narrow context of "outsider" art and have compared his monumental vision and fluidity of expression to masters like Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Willem de Kooning.
Through fellow artist [[Lonnie Holley]], Dial's work came to the attention of Atlanta collector Bill Arnett in [[1987]]. Arnett began championing it to larger audiences as part of his interest in documenting, promoting and supporting African-American vernacular art from the South. In later years, critics have rejected the notion that Dial's work should be understood within the narrow context of "outsider" art and have compared his monumental vision and fluidity of expression to masters like Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Willem de Kooning.


Dial's work was the subject of a major exhibition at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York in [[1993]], and was also part of the Whitney Museum's Biennial in [[2000]]. Another major solo exhibition, entitled "Thornton Dial in the 21st Century", was held at the Museum of Fine Art in Houston, Texas in [[2005]]-[[2006]].
Dial's work was the subject of a major exhibition at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York in [[1993]], and was also part of the Whitney Museum's Biennial in [[2000]]. Another major solo exhibition, entitled "Thornton Dial in the 21st Century", was held at the Museum of Fine Art in Houston, Texas in [[2005]]-[[2006]]. Eight of his works are in the permanent collection of the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]], including "[[Nobody Know What Go On Behind the Jungle]]" ([[1989]]).


Dial was commissioned for two large pieces of public sculpture, "The Bridge", installed in [[1997]] in Atlanta, Georgia and "Road to the Mountaintop", completed in [[2014]] in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dial was commissioned for two large pieces of public sculpture, "The Bridge", installed in [[1997]] in Atlanta, Georgia and "Road to the Mountaintop", completed in [[2014]] in Nashville, Tennessee. Also in 2014, Dial was presented with the Key to the City of Bessemer by Mayor [[Kenneth Gulley]] who proclaimed [[May 31]] as "Thornton Dial Day", during the annual [[Bob Sykes BBQ and Blues Festival]].
 
Dial died at home in [[McCalla]] in January [[2016]]. He was survived by his four children, Mattie, Thornton Jr, Richard and Dan


== References ==
== References ==
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* Kennedy, Randy (October 20, 2015) "Boesky Gallery to Represent Thornton Dial." ''The New York Times''
* Kennedy, Randy (October 20, 2015) "Boesky Gallery to Represent Thornton Dial." ''The New York Times''
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thornton_Dial Thornton Dial]" (January 10, 2016) Wikipedia - accessed January 15, 2016
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thornton_Dial Thornton Dial]" (January 10, 2016) Wikipedia - accessed January 15, 2016
* Grimes, William (January 26, 2016) "[http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/27/arts/thornton-dial-outsider-artist-whose-work-told-of-black-life-dies-at-87.html Thornton Dial, Outsider Artist Whose Work Told of Black Life, Dies at 87]" ''The New York Times''
* Archibald, John (June 5, 2015) "[https://www.al.com/opinion/2015/06/alabama_man_feted_around_the_g.html Alabama man feted around the globe, forgotten at home]." {{BN}}
* Stuart, Shauna (December 1, 2022) "[https://www.al.com/life/2022/12/this-show-is-long-overdue-thornton-dials-artistic-legacy-on-display-in-birmingham.html ‘This show is long overdue’: Thornton Dial’s artistic legacy on display in Birmingham]" {{BN}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
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* [http://lowegallery.com Bill Lowe Gallery] Atlanta, Georgia Gallery representing the work of Thornton Dial
* [http://lowegallery.com Bill Lowe Gallery] Atlanta, Georgia Gallery representing the work of Thornton Dial
* [http://edlingallery.com Andrew Edlin Gallery] New York Gallery representing the work of Thornton Dial
* [http://edlingallery.com Andrew Edlin Gallery] New York Gallery representing the work of Thornton Dial
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLJyZSABnM8 Hard Truths: The Art of Thornton Dial]" film trailer at YouTube.com
* "[http://vimeo.com/72142303 Mr Dial Has Something to Say]" 2007 documentary film at Vimeo.com


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dial, Thornton}}
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[[Category:Factory workers]]
[[Category:Factory workers]]
[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:Artists in the BMA]]

Latest revision as of 10:14, 9 May 2023

Thornton Dial

Thornton Dial (born September 10, 1928 in Emelle, Sumter County; died January 25, 2016 in McCalla) was an internationally-known artist. Though he was self-taught and used found objects in his work, his art transcends the stereotypical limitations of "primitive" or "folk art".

Dial was the son of Mattie Bell and grew up on a farm owned by a cousin, Buddy Jake Dial, who made sculptures from items he found. When he was twelve he moved to Bessemer and went to work for the Pullman-Standard Company building railroad cars.

He married the former Clara Mae Murrow in 1951 and had five children. While living in Bessemer, Dial was further influenced by art made by his neighbors. When the Pullman factory closed in 1981 he turned his attention to making art.

Much of Dial's work consists of large-scale multimedia assemblages with found objects tightly bound together under layers of thick paint. He used recurring symbols and strong colors to address issues of importance such as war, racism and poverty.

Through fellow artist Lonnie Holley, Dial's work came to the attention of Atlanta collector Bill Arnett in 1987. Arnett began championing it to larger audiences as part of his interest in documenting, promoting and supporting African-American vernacular art from the South. In later years, critics have rejected the notion that Dial's work should be understood within the narrow context of "outsider" art and have compared his monumental vision and fluidity of expression to masters like Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Willem de Kooning.

Dial's work was the subject of a major exhibition at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York in 1993, and was also part of the Whitney Museum's Biennial in 2000. Another major solo exhibition, entitled "Thornton Dial in the 21st Century", was held at the Museum of Fine Art in Houston, Texas in 2005-2006. Eight of his works are in the permanent collection of the Birmingham Museum of Art, including "Nobody Know What Go On Behind the Jungle" (1989).

Dial was commissioned for two large pieces of public sculpture, "The Bridge", installed in 1997 in Atlanta, Georgia and "Road to the Mountaintop", completed in 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. Also in 2014, Dial was presented with the Key to the City of Bessemer by Mayor Kenneth Gulley who proclaimed May 31 as "Thornton Dial Day", during the annual Bob Sykes BBQ and Blues Festival.

Dial died at home in McCalla in January 2016. He was survived by his four children, Mattie, Thornton Jr, Richard and Dan

References

External links

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