Minnie Evans’ Fantastical World Unveiled at High Museum

Atlanta art lovers are invited to immerse themselves in the visionary realm of self-taught artist Minnie Evans, whose groundbreaking retrospective, “The Lost World: The Art of Minnie Evans,” is now on view at the High Museum. This significant exhibition, the first major showing of her work in 30 years, offers a profound look into the life and art of a Southern creative spirit.

A Visionary Artist Grounded in Reality

Though her artwork exploded with fantastical and dreamlike imagery, Minnie Evans was deeply rooted in the everyday life of Wilmington, North Carolina, her hometown. Born in 1892, her early life and environment profoundly influenced her art, shaping her creative evolution and the arc of her life’s work. The exhibition delves into these formative forces, including her family, employers, and the specific historical context of Wilmington.

Influences and Inspiration

Evans’ unique style was a melting pot of diverse influences. She drew inspiration from her fervent religious beliefs, rich mythology, B-grade movies, and even her immediate surroundings. From the 1940s, she incorporated elements from Hollywood Fu Manchu productions, Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, biblical writings, and ancient codes into her intricate drawings. Her work, often featuring bursting colors, exquisite details, and mandalas, can be seen as a conduit for her imagination, blending human history, divine power, and even an apocalyptic quality akin to Rorschach blots, Roman, Hindu, Greek, or Buddhist archetypes.

The Wilmington Context

The exhibition powerfully debunks the notion of a “vacuum” for self-taught artists, emphasizing how Evans’ experiences directly fueled her art. A stark example is the impact of the 1898 Wilmington Massacre, a brutal event where Black-owned businesses were attacked, elected officials removed, and many African Americans were killed or forced to flee. This violence, which Minnie Evans experienced as a five-year-old, likely informed recurring motifs in her drawings, such as figures hiding in graveyards, as noted by curator Katherine Jentleson.

The Evolution of Her Art

Evans began having visions in 1935, following the death of her beloved grandmother. She described these powerful visions as compelling her to “make art,” particularly drawings that she called “firsts,” looping and intensified with recurring forms and flourishes. Her initial drawings from 1935-1946 evolved into increasingly complex and detailed works, often using pencil, ink, crayon, and oil on paperboard, as seen in pieces like “Untitled (Face Flanked by Angels and Mandalas Collage)” (1946–1968) and “Untitled (Scalloped Forms)” (1944).

Airlie Gardens and Creative Freedom

A pivotal moment in Evans’ artistic journey came in 1948 when she moved to a property adjoining Airlie Gardens and became a gatekeeper. This role provided a unique environment where she truly “flourished” as an artist. Many of her drawings from this period depict exploding botanical forms, flowers, butterflies, and trees, reflecting the garden’s influence. She was known to sell her small, original works to visitors for 25 cents. Some speculate that the “all-seeing eyes” motif in her work might have been inspired by her experience under surveillance, working for wealthy landowners.

Connecting with Other Visionaries

The High Museum’s exhibition also draws fascinating parallels between Evans and other self-taught artists. The exploration of her “spiritual impulse” and how it’s expressed in art renews interest in abstract figures.

Don’t Miss “The Lost World”

This comprehensive exhibition at the High Museum debunks the idea that visionary, self-taught artists operated in a vacuum. Instead, it powerfully showcases how Evans’ daily reality, personal history, and deeply spiritual experiences converged to create a fantastical world uniquely her own. The show includes early drawings, photographs of Evans at work, and examples of how her rich imagination exploded onto paper.

• What is the main exhibition about?
  The exhibition, “The Lost World: The Art of Minnie Evans,” is a major retrospective of the self-taught visionary artist Minnie Evans, exploring her life, influences, and fantastical artwork.
• Where is the exhibition located?
  The exhibition is at the High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta.
• What were Minnie Evans’ key inspirations?
  Evans was influenced by religion, mythology, B-grade movies, her environment, and personal spiritual visions she experienced starting in childhood.
• How did her work at Airlie Gardens impact her art?
  Becoming a gatekeeper at Airlie Gardens in 1948 provided a creative outlet, inspiring her to draw the exploding botanical forms and flowers seen in many of her pieces, which she sold to visitors.
• Is this the first time her work has been extensively shown?
  This is the first major exhibition of Minnie Evans’ work in 30 years, offering a renewed and comprehensive look at her fantastical world.

Plan your visit to the High Museum soon to experience Minnie Evans’ incredible “Lost World” – a testament to the enduring power of self-taught artistic genius right here in Atlanta.

Minnie Evans Fantastical World Unveiled at High Museum