William L. Hawkins at Maison d’Art, Los Angeles

Bookmarking here to hold myself accountable to go see this show by self-taught artist William L. Hawkins at Maison d’Art in LA before it comes down May 30:

“Born in Kentucky in 1895, Hawkins grew up at the turn of the twentieth century on his family’s expansive farm. He began drawing by copying illustrations from horse- auction announcements and calendars. Hawkins relocated to Columbus, Ohio, in 1916. In 1918, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a Private in the 317th Corps of Engineers, an all-Black regiment, during World War I. Upon demobilization, he returned to Columbus, where he continued to draw while working intermittently in the construction industry. Hawkins sold his work for modest sums while he navigated the social and technological upheaval in his city and observed seismic change in the United States. Painting took prominence in Hawkins’ life in the mid-1970s, and soon after, his depictions of architectural facades earned him recognition in his home state. A selection of Hawkins’ breakthrough subject matter, made in the mid-1980s, is presented in this exhibition.”