Mose T A to Z:The Folk Art of Mose Tolliver

MOSE T from A TO Z: THE FOLK ART OF MOSE TOLLIVER by Alabama author/artist Anton Haardt creates an intimate portrait of the life of a unique African-American who overcame his disabilities through his art making. Injured on a job, Mose Tolliver took up painting as a way to productively fill his hours. After several years, Mose was discovered by collectors and his work now hangs in numerous collections and has been included in many shows by famous galleries like the Corcoran Art Gallery in Washington, DC. Author Anton Haardt lets us see beyond the artist into the personality of a complex man who took defeat and turned it into victory.Haardt s book is a must-read for art lovers, as well as for those who think art is only for the wealthy. Most T showed us all there is art in doing what you love and loving what you do. Summary- A man of humble beginnings, Mose Tolliver better known as Mose T rose from obscurity to become one of America s most celebrated folk artists. Tolliver s paintings were fresh and unconventional. Before his fame reached its peak in 1982, they hung from trees outside his home in Montgomery and often sold (if they sold at all) for no more than three to four dollars a piece. Inspired by nature, this self-taught artist painted works that remain sought-after collectors items to this day. From the humble beginnings of painting on salvaged surfaces like birdhouses and scrap metal to a train ride to the nation s capital where his work was displayed for First Lady Nancy Reagan in an illustrious gallery, Mose T became an iconic figure in the world of folk art. Collector Anton Haardt describes the life of the extraordinary man and the seminal exhibit that propelled Mose T to fame and helped solidify the importance of folk art to American culture.