Jonathan Green (American, b. 1955), The Wedding

Oil on Masonite, 1988, signed, framed.

Sight size 47 1/2 x 47 1/2 in.; Frame dimensions 53 1/4 x 53 1/4 in.

From the Collection of the late Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans, Durham, North Carolina
Gifted to the consignor by the above

Exhibited:
McKissick Museum of the University of South Carolina, From Deep Roots to New Ground: The Gullah Landscape of Jonathan Green, 1993

Jonathan Green is a renowned American painter celebrated for his vivid, dynamic depictions of Gullah culture in the coastal regions of South Carolina. Born in Gardens Corner, South Carolina, Green was raised in the Gullah community, a group of African Americans known for preserving their West African heritage through language, crafts, and traditions. His art, characterized by bold colors, rhythmic compositions, and an expressive, figurative style, reflects the daily lives, rituals, and landscapes of the Gullah people. Green studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he honed his artistic skills while remaining deeply connected to his cultural roots. His work bridges the past and present, capturing the resilience and beauty of Gullah traditions in a rapidly changing world.

Green's paintings have earned widespread acclaim, appearing in major museums, galleries, and private collections across the United States. His works, often filled with themes of community, spirituality, and the natural world, celebrate African American heritage while conveying universal themes of human connection and belonging. In addition to his contributions as a painter, Green is an advocate for cultural preservation and education, using his art to promote awareness of the Gullah way of life. His vibrant imagery, inspired by both memory and history, has positioned him as one of the most important visual storytellers of the American South.

Green’s work is in the permanent collections of numerous museums, including The Morris Museum, Augusta, Georgia, The Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, South Carolina; The The Afro-American Museum of Philadelphia; Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri; University of Virginia Art Museum, Charlottesville; The McKissick Museum, Columbia, South Carolina; The Naples Museum of Art, Naples, Florida; The IFCC Cultural Center, Portland, Oregon; and many others.

Good estate condition.