Tribute to Horace Pippin (Reenvisioning)

Tribute to Horace Pippin by artist Delia King is located in North Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The mural is a reenvisioning of a mural by the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network created at the same site in 1995.

King describes the reenvisioned mural in an artist statement:

“This is a new mural based on an old mural The Domino Player at the same site. I feel that murals have a function to teach a wide audience. This mural is meant to inform the public of the struggle that Horace Pippin had to endure in order to paint. It also tells the viewer where he/she can go to see this painting, emphasizing that this artist’s contribution to American Culture is recognized by an important institution.”

The mural includes a textual panel that reads:

Horace Pippin
1888-1946
*Folk Artist*

Born in West Chester, PA, he grew up in Goshen, NY. He left school at age 14 to go to work. He also started to draw.

At the start of WWI he enlisted in the 369th regiment, the first African-American combat unit, also called the Harlem Hellfighters. On Sept. 30, 1918, he was shot by a German sniper during the seige of Sechault. His right arm was paralyzed.

In 1920 he married Jennie Giles.

He painted by holding his right art up with his left hand. Painting was painful and slow. He painted his memories of childhood and the war.

His 1st solo art exhibit was in 1940. Died in W. Chester.