Description
Purvis Young — Angel Head (Outsider Art Painting on Plywood). Earthy tones of ochre, rust, olive, and cream are layered in loose brushstrokes, creating a weathered surface that reflects the artist’s practice of working on found materials. A striking and highly expressive work by celebrated Miami outsider artist Purvis Young, titled Angel Head. Painted on a salvaged plywood panel, the composition features a large, elongated head with haunting, wide-set eyes rendered in Young’s unmistakable raw, gestural style. Above the figure, energetic markings and symbolic forms evoke halos, angels, and spiritual iconography—recurring themes throughout Young’s work. Earthy tones of ochre, rust, olive, and cream are layered in loose brushstrokes, creating a weathered surface that reflects the artist’s practice of working on found materials. Small bird- or angel-like figures to the right further reinforce Young’s fascination with spiritual imagery, redemption, and the human condition. Young’s works—often painted on wood scraps, doors, and discarded panels—are widely regarded as some of the most powerful examples of American outsider art. Pieces like this, with a strong central figure and bold symbolism, are highly collectible and represent the artist’s deeply personal visual language developed in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood. The work is presented in a simple black frame measuring 20 x 38 inches, with the artwork itself measuring 15 x 33 inches.