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  • harry underwoodharry underwood
  • brett weaverbrett weaver
  • brad wreyfordbrad wreyford
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Artist Portfolio: Thornton Dial

Browse the gallery, and learn about the artist.
Thornton Dial

About Thornton Dial

Dial grew up in Alabama in poverty and bombarded by rampant racism. He had virtually no opportunities for public education. He made art all of his life, sourcing his materials from the throwaways of the world around him—house paint, rope, miscellaneous metals, paper - whatever was available to him. He re-directed what he learned from years of building railroad cars for the Pullman Company for the Bessemer Steel Company into his making of art. Once a fellow Alabama artist and friend, Lonnie Holley, introduced him in the late 1980s to William Arnett—a scholar looking to discover and understand why the black culture of the south had produced jazz, but nothing was ever known about the visual equal to the music—Mr. Dial over the next 25 years came to be a prime ambassador of southern African-American visual culture. The relationship between Mr. Dial and Mr. Arnett has set a new standard for how artists and their patrons can together bring new insights to the world of contemporary art. 

Mr. Dial is often categorized as a self-taught or outsider artist, but the substance and techniques of the artwork he has produced far exceed those definitions. William Arnett, Mr. Dial’s key patron, says defining Thornton Dial’s work can be stated simply:  great American artist. Increasingly, there are references in articles and books to Mr. Dial’s work as the counterparts of jazz in American culture— completely original artwork stemming from experiences and knowledge way outside academic institutions and the parameters of the prevailing definitions of the art world, just as jazz came out of traditions alien to the prevailing definitions of the world of classical music.

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    prevFirst Runner Up for Miss Americanext

    First Runner Up for Miss America

    12.5 x 9.75 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevScopingnext

    Scoping

    12 x 9 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevThe Orkin Man (1996)next

    The Orkin Man (1996)

    7 3/4 x 5 3/4 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevPrimping Ladynext

    Primping Lady

    8 x 6 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevSurviving (1996)next

    Surviving (1996)

    7 3/4 x 5 3/4 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevFishing for Love 2next

    Fishing for Love 2

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevLife Goes Onnext

    Life Goes On

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevBig Faced Lady Always Wanting Somethingnext

    Big Faced Lady Always Wanting Something

    29 1/2 x 41 1/2 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevWorking Ladynext

    Working Lady

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevThere is a Statue in Every Town (1993)next

    There is a Statue in Every Town (1993)

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevStruggling Tigernext

    Struggling Tiger

    60 x 84 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevThe Way Life Travels (1992)next

    The Way Life Travels (1992)

    22 x 30 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevRunning in the Tall Grass (1997)next

    Running in the Tall Grass (1997)

    30 x 44 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevHeading for the Higher Paying Jobsnext

    Heading for the Higher Paying Jobs

    22 x 30 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevCross Life (1993)next

    Cross Life (1993)

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevBird Catcher Ladynext

    Bird Catcher Lady

    41 1/2 x 29 1/2 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevOne Lady Can Handle Two Tigers (1992)next

    One Lady Can Handle Two Tigers (1992)

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevNew York Picture (1991)next

    New York Picture (1991)

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevLady Stands by her Tiger (1991)next

    Lady Stands by her Tiger (1991)

    22 x 30 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevMrs. Bryants Yard (1997)next

    Mrs. Bryants Yard (1997)

    30 x 44 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevFishing for Love (1992)next

    Fishing for Love (1992)

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevAnniversary Picture: The Dial Wedding (41 Years Ago)next

    Anniversary Picture: The Dial Wedding (41 Years Ago)

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevDemocrats: Moving to Townnext

    Democrats: Moving to Town

    22 x 30 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevThink Before You Speaknext

    Think Before You Speak

    12.5 x 9.5 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevBig City Lifenext

    Big City Life

    9.75 x 12.5 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevCreation Birdnext

    Creation Bird

    14 x 10.25 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevFriendly Lady with a Tigernext

    Friendly Lady with a Tiger

    12 x 17.75 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevMovie Starnext

    Movie Star

    24 x 18 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevDowntown Travelingnext

    Downtown Traveling

    29.5 x 41.5 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevGroup Singersnext

    Group Singers

    30 x 44 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevThe Music of Nashvillenext

    The Music of Nashville

    44 x 30 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevWatching the Climbing Catnext

    Watching the Climbing Cat

    40 x 26 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevThe Ram Been Around for A Long Timenext

    The Ram Been Around for A Long Time

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevUntitled (Life Go On) 1next

    Untitled (Life Go On) 1

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevHauling Things in a Trucknext

    Hauling Things in a Truck

    22 x 30 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevBird-Catcher Lady 1990next

    Bird-Catcher Lady 1990

    30 x 22 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevLady Will Stand by Her Tigernext

    Lady Will Stand by Her Tiger

    22 x 30 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

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    prevJungle Picturenext

    Jungle Picture

    14 x 10 in., Mixed media, price upon request. ©Thornton Dial For purchase, please call toll-free: 1-877-694-2040 or email: art@theartscompany.com

Full Gallery

prev next
    • First Runner Up for Miss America
    • Scoping
    • The Orkin Man (1996)
    • Primping Lady
    • Surviving (1996)
    • Fishing for Love 2
    • Life Goes On
    • Big Faced Lady Always Wanting Something
    • Working Lady
    • There is a Statue in Every Town (1993)
    • Struggling Tiger
    • The Way Life Travels (1992)
    • Running in the Tall Grass (1997)
    • Heading for the Higher Paying Jobs
    • Cross Life (1993)
    • Bird Catcher Lady
    • One Lady Can Handle Two Tigers (1992)
    • New York Picture (1991)
    • Lady Stands by her Tiger (1991)
    • Mrs. Bryants Yard (1997)
    • Fishing for Love (1992)
    • Anniversary Picture: The Dial Wedding (41 Years Ago)
    • Democrats: Moving to Town
    • Think Before You Speak
    • Big City Life
    • Creation Bird
    • Friendly Lady with a Tiger
    • Movie Star
    • Downtown Traveling
    • Group Singers
    • The Music of Nashville
    • Watching the Climbing Cat
    • The Ram Been Around for A Long Time
    • Untitled (Life Go On) 1
    • Hauling Things in a Truck
    • Bird-Catcher Lady 1990
    • Lady Will Stand by Her Tiger
    • Jungle Picture
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