Richard Mayhew’s work has been referred to as 19th century landscape painting meets a mid-twentieth century, modern style of painting. Mayhew was inspired by his love for Blues music and his passion for nature. Mayhew traveled up and down the northeast coast of the United States to explore the country’s natural landscape. He credits his dual Native American and African American heritage as primary inspiration for his work and wanted to use his art as an opportunity to honor his indigenous ancestors. Mayhew refers to his landscape works as “mindscapes,” because he believes they represent his internalized thoughts and feelings.
Mayhew became a founding member of Spiral, an artist collective of 15 Black painters including Romare Bearden, Hale Woodruff, and Norman Lewis. Formed in response to the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the collective was inspired to explore the role of art within the Civil Rights Movement.
Title: Moody Space Blues
Artist: Richard Mayhew (b. 1934)
Date: n.d.
Medium: etching on paper
Dimensions: 27 ¼ x 32 ¾ inches
Accession Number: H77.48
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