William Pajaud
William Etienne "Bill" Pajaud | |
---|---|
Born | New Orleans, Louisiana U.S. | August 3, 1925
Died | June 16, 2015 | (aged 89)
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Painter, artist |
Known for | Paintings exploring themes of Jazz |
William Etienne "Bill" Pajaud (August 3, 1925 – June 16, 2015) was an African-American artist, primarily working in watercolor, known for his paintings exploring themes of jazz.
Early life and education
William Pajaud's father was a jazz musician, whose main source of income was working at funerals.[2] His mother was a trained pharmacist, but, as an African American woman, found it difficult to find work.[2]
Pajaud earned a fine arts degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans in 1941.[2] Pajaud moved to Chicago in the early 1940s, where he took work as a sign painter and designer.[2]
In 1949 he moved to Los Angeles to study graphic design at Chouinard Art Institute.[2]
Career and work
Pajaud was a member of the Society of Graphic Designers, the Los Angeles County Art Association, and the National Watercolor Society, of which he served as president from 1974 to 1975.[4] He was part of the artists' collective Eleven Associated (later Art West Association). This Los Angeles artists' co-op included artists Beulah Woodard, Alice Taylor Gafford and Tyrus Wong.[5][6]
Pajaud's watercolors featured imagery inspired by his childhood in New Orleans and his adult life in Chicago and Los Angeles: full-figured African American women, jazz funerals, street scenes.[5]
Selected exhibitions and collections
- 'Now Dig This!: Art and Black Los Angeles 1960–1980', Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, 2011.[7]
- 'The Life and Art of William Pajaud', M. Hanks Gallery, Santa Monica, 2003.[8]
- 'William Pajaud: The Sights and Sounds of My New Orleans', California African American Museum, Los Angeles, 2000.[5]
- 'Psalms, Sermons & Rituals: William Pajaud', Brockman Gallery, Los Angeles, 1981.[5]
- 'California Black Artists', Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, 1977.[5]
- 'Charles White', Haggin Art Galleries, Pioneer Museum, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, 1975.[5]
- 'Black American Artists '71', Illinois Art Council and Illinois Bell Lobby Gallery, Chicago, 1971.[5]
Pajaud's work is in the collections of the
Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Fine Art Collection
Pajaud was the adviser for the acquisition of artworks for the black-owned
A large proportion of the collection was auctioned in 2007 when the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company went out of business.[3][2] 124 of the works from the collection were acquired by Los Angeles County after Pajaud put out a plea to 'Take care of the work and take care of the concept of the people. If, for instance, you are able to get your hands on a piece of that work, any of it, realize that all of it was put together in love, for you and anybody else in the world to see.'[10] Several of these works are on view at the AC Bilbrew Library, the Willowbrook Senior Center, the View Park Bebe Moore Campbell Library, and the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration.[10]
Awards
Pajaud's honors include:
- 1969 PRSA Art Exhibition Award of Merit
- 1971 National Association of Media Women Communications Award
- 1975 University of the Pacific Honor
- 1978 Paul Robeson Special Award for Contribution to the Arts
- 1981 PR News Gold Key Award
- 1981 League of Allied Arts Corporation Artists of Achievement Award
- 2004 Samella Award.[12]
References
- ^ Hanks, Eric (January 1, 2000). "A Song For His Father: William Pajaud and the Jazz Funeral Tradition". The International Review of African American Art. 17 (2): 2–13.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Colker, David. "William Pajaud dies at 89; watercolorist amassed prominent collection of African American art". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ a b c d Colker, David (2015-06-27). "William Pajaud dies at 89; watercolorist amassed prominent collection of African American art". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
- ^ "Profile: William Pajaud (1925-2015)". Black Art Story. 2020-12-22. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "William Pajaud | Now Dig This! digital archive | Hammer Museum". Hammer Museum. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
- ^ ISBN 9780822374169.
- ^ "Now Dig This! | Hammer Museum". hammer.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
- ^ ISBN 0971015023.
- ^ a b "CAAM | The Legacy of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company: More Than A Business". caamuseum.org. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
- ^ a b c "Celebrating Black History Month and the Golden State Mutual Collection". LA County Department of Arts and Culture. 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
- ^ "Artist William Pajaud's Jazzy New Orleans, Part 1". NPR.org. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
- ^ "ArtMakers: William Pajaud". www.thehistorymakers.com. Retrieved 14 December 2014.