Page 110 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript African Americana- Sale 2308 - March 21, 2013
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178
●
(ART.) SIMPSON, MERTON D.
Brothers.
Acrylic on artist’s canvas board, 7
1
⁄
4
x
9
1
⁄
2
inches, framed by the artist and then mounted in a shadow-box, presumably by the
artist as well. Signed, dated and titled on the reverse of the shadow-box.
[1,000/1,500]
Merton D. Simpson is one of the last living members of the so-called “Spiral Group.” Formed
in 1963 by a group of artists to seek out methods of participation in the Civil Rights move-
ment, sparked by the March on Washington of that year. Founding members constituted the
vanguard of mid-century African American Modernism including Romare Bearden, Charles
Alston, Norman Lewis and Hale Woodruff. Membership soon spread to Emma Amos (the sole
woman and youngest member of the group), Calvin Douglas, Perry Ferguson, Reginald
Gammon, Feirath Hines, Alvin Hollingsworth, William Majors, Richard Mayhew, Earl
Miller, Merton D. Simpson and James Yeargans.
179
●
(ART.) SIMPSON, MERTON D.
Untitled abstract pastel.
14
3
⁄
4
x 11
1
⁄
4
inches,
framed.
[New York], signed and dated , 1977 in the lower right corner
[2,500/3,500]
178
179
