The Kings Procession brass sculpture vividly depicts a ceremonial parade, celebrating the rich traditions and cultural heritage of African royalty. Crafted with intricate detail, it showcases figures adorned in regal attire, emphasizing community and leadership.
William Artis was a sculptor from Washington, NC. "A Mother's Love" is a limestone sculpture of a mother holding her daughter in her lap. The mother looks down affectionately as she cradles the child's head.
William Artis was a sculptor from Washington, DC. "A Terra-Cotta Head" is a bust of a woman with a solemn expression. The bust has a slight head tilt with an elongated neck.
This is an abstract work featuring adornments like swirls, eyes, and pyramids. This blend of symbols suggests themes of hybridity and the fusion of cultures. Professor Carroll Harris Simms' terracotta tradition was inspired by the shrine sculptures of the Nok and Ife peoples of West Africa. In diasporic contexts, the sculptures' significance evolves.
Dr. Eddie Jordan, Sr., was a Southern artist from Wichita Falls, TX. "African Decree" is a metal sculpture of a humanoid figure. It has two legs with feet that stand on stilts and a middle section of the body with vertically stacked bolts. Sculpted metal parts extend to mimic arms, and the spiraled metal pieces represent coiled hair.
Dr. Eddie Jordan, Sr. was a Southern artist from Wichita Falls, TX. "African Female and Animal" is a wooden assemblage of its namesake made from repurposed furniture.
This drum, fastened from wood and animal hide, is reminiscent of an Akan Kettle Drum from Ghana. The Akan are an ethnic group that includes the Fante, Asante, and Akuapem cultures; their culture is most prevalent in present-day Ghana. This type of drum was used for any event that required entertainment (except for court-reserved performances).
In 1787, Josiah Wedgwood’s London-based ceramics company created a medallion depicting a kneeling, shackled Black man with the engraved inscription “Am I Not A Man And A Brother?”. This symbol quickly spread across antislavery movements in Britain, France, and the United States and was used on many consumer goods, including this pin dish.
Lacy’s terracotta tower sculpture features cut-outs throughout the body. The top bears an abstract, smiling face with conical ears. The work is decorated with spirals and rolled balls of clay, both of which are among the signature embellishments used by students of Professor Simms. Lacy features this sculpture prominently in her Hannah Hall mural, where it appears as a building.
Johnny Jones’s sculpture, “Armadillo,” features decorative embellishments along the body of the animal, especially the shell. The spiral motif is often found on the sculptures of student artists taught by Carroll Harris Simms. Armadillos, which utilize their shells for protection, are commonly found in Texas.
Gregory L. Ridley, Jr., was an artist from Smyrna, TN. "Asleep in Stone" is a marble sculpture of a person asleep. The subject's face is subtly carved into the marble, giving the impression that the subject is not separate from the stone.
The agricultural society of the Bamana people in West Africa (mainly Mali), also known as Bambara, honors Ci Wara, the mythical being they believe granted them the gift of farming, through wooden carved headdresses. This sculpture combines the features of humans, antelopes, and other native animals for performances celebrating successful farmers.
The Bateba, in Fante culture, is a guardian spirit that protects women and children from harmful field spirits. It symbolizes nurturing, protection, and resilience. At FAMU, the Bateba represents a cultural link to African heritage, emphasizing the protective role of spiritual figures in the lives of families and communities throughout history.
Elizabeth Catlett was an artist and educator from Washington, D.C., who repatriated to Mexico. "Bather" is a bronze sculpture of a woman preparing to bathe. The subject is nude, standing with their head held high with a towel hanging from their arm.
Elizabeth Montgomery Shelton’s terracotta is made up of a variety of colored clays with embellishments that have been painted using black and tan slips. The top half includes layers of plates extending out from the surface, while the bottom half is evenly decorated with pressed circular clay. The structure perhaps mimics an instrument or a bird feeder.
Erma Gordon’s “Bison” sculpture includes two-toned clay with a smooth finish on the body. The hair of the bison is carefully sculpted on the top of its body, lending a realistic, soft texture. The artist depicted herself creating this sculpture in her Hannah Hall mural. Wildlife are frequent subjects of TSU student terracottas.
This rare mask could belong to the Gurunsi, Boba, or Bwa ethnic groups in Burkina Faso, one of the oldest agricultural groups in that region. They believed in strictly preserving the spirits, which brought balance to a world humans disturb. Each mask is unique, channeling these spirits for performances, celebrations, and harvest rituals.
Settles, a student of Carroll Harris Simms, created the sculpture “Camel” in 1978. The creation of a large terracotta sculpture was a part of each art student's curriculum. The design features include a huge hump and embellishments, including spirals, on the exterior. Sculptures lacking sufficient ornamentation were often not retained for the collection.
This maquette, created by an unknown Texas Southern University art student, shows a feline creature at attention. There are various swirl patterns and textures on the figure. The swirls are a required component for the maquette project, as Carroll Harris Simms pushed his students to richly embellish their works.
Guy L. Miller was an artist from Los Angeles, CA. "Character" is a sculpture of the head of a bearded Black man. His eyes are closed, and he looks as if he is in a deep slumber. The marble sculpture head has a deep black color, invoking fortitude and calm.
Walker’s bust was created during his time as an art student at TSU. Under the instruction of Professor Carroll Harris Simms, artists would create self-portraits embellished with textures, like those seen in the hair of this sculpture. While most were made from terracotta clay, this one is made from plaster. These busts are inspired by Nok terracotta sculptures and Ife busts, which Simms saw during his travels to Western Africa.
Dr. Eddie Jordan, Sr., was a Southern artist from Wichita Falls, TX. "Christ Crowned with Thorns" is a metal bust of Jesus with African features. The bust has a metal thorned crown installed atop it to depict Jesus' leading to his crucifixion.
Richmond Barthe was a sculptor from Bay St. Louis, MS. "Christina" is a plaster and bronze bust of a woman with a pensive expression mounted on a dark pedestal.
Hayward Oubre was a multimedia artist and educator from New Orleans, LA. During his time competing at the annuals, Oubre developed his artistic practice to include wire to set himself apart from his competition. "Crown of Thorns" is a metal wire framework depiction of Jesus that represents Oubre's skill in wire sculpture.
“Shrine,” by Curtis Watson Jr., features a duck-like creature surrounded by various embellishments, including spirals, a commonly used visual motif in the student terracottas. Unfortunately, the head of the figure is missing, leaving only the body in view. The full sculpture can be seen in archival photos shot by Dr. John T. Biggers of the artist at work.
Jafar’s terracotta depicts a mother figure carrying her child on her back. The exterior of the sculpture is smooth and lacking any of the motifs that are normally featured on Texas Southern students’ terracottas, perhaps suggesting the sculpture was left unfinished. The mother and child relationship is one of the most frequently featured themes in the artwork of students of Dr. Biggers and Professor Simms.
This unknown student’s bust was created during their time as an art student at TSU. Under the instruction of Professor Carroll Harris Simms, artists would create self-portraits embellished with decorations like spirals and accentuated crown pieces, like in this sculpture. These busts are inspired by Nok terracotta sculptures and Ife busts, which Simms saw during his travels to Western Africa. This bust is different from others due to its black ceramic and large rectangular base.
This dark wood carved African chair features intricate facial and head carvings at the top, embodying rich cultural artistry and spiritual significance. Traditionally used in ceremonial contexts, it reflects the craftsmanship and storytelling inherent in African art. Donated by Tallahassee locals Calynne and Louis Hill.
Henry Wilmer Bannarn was an educator, sculptor, painter, and sketch artist best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance. "Daywork" is a limestone sculpture of a woman doing domestic labor. The female subject appears to be kneading something with raised shoulders.
Irabell Cotton was a multidisciplinary artist from Harris, Oklahoma. "Despair" is a marble sculpture depicting a person in an anguished pose. The figure is balled into itself, with its head in one hand and the other arm wrapped around its shoulder.
