John Wesley Hardrick (1891-1968)
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Born in Indiana, John Wesley Hardrick was an African American artist. who painted landscapes, portraits and still lives. Hardrick showed an interest and talent in painting since he was young, learning to use watercolors at the age of 8 without instruction. In 1910, he went to the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis. Hardrick continued to paint and exhibit through the American Depression and on December 18, 1933, Hardrick applied for a Civil Works Administration Public Works of Art program and was selected for the project planning committee. In 1934, he was awarded a commission from the WPA to paint a mural for Crispus Attucks High School. The mural, titled Workers, was of three African-American foundry workers pouring molten metal. When it was presented to the high school principal, he refused to install the mural due to its subject matter, citing that he was concerned that it would dampen student aspirations. By 1940 Hardrick began driving a taxi. He also sold paintings out of his trunk and would often see a subject he would want to paint while driving around and if they agreed, he would take them to his studio and complete their portrait in a few hours.
In 1941, his wife Georgia died and he moved to his parents' house with his three children, Raphael, Georgia, and Rachel. He had a small studio in the attic there, but by 1943 his daughters had married and he left that home. In 1946, his friends Rufus and Emily Wharton offered him their basement as a home and studio, and he moved in. He continued to paint until unable to due to Parkinson's disease. When he died in 1968, he was still a nationally celebrated artist in spite of living his entire life in Indiana. His painting, “Little Brown Girl” is featuring at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
In 1941, his wife Georgia died and he moved to his parents' house with his three children, Raphael, Georgia, and Rachel. He had a small studio in the attic there, but by 1943 his daughters had married and he left that home. In 1946, his friends Rufus and Emily Wharton offered him their basement as a home and studio, and he moved in. He continued to paint until unable to due to Parkinson's disease. When he died in 1968, he was still a nationally celebrated artist in spite of living his entire life in Indiana. His painting, “Little Brown Girl” is featuring at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.