October Birthday Artists: Motley, Picasso, Wadsworth and more….

Posted by Meg Nola Oct 18, 2008

October offers an interesting selection of 19th and 20th century birthday artists, starting with A.Y. (Alexander Young) Jackson on the 3rd. Jackson was a member of the Canadian Group of Seven Impressionists and painter of the beautiful 1914 work The Red Maple. Artist Archibald Motley is generally listed as being born on October 7, 1891, though a few sources note a September birth date. Of Creole, African American and Native American heritage himself, Motley was greatly intrigued by the diverse palette of skin tones among American blacks, along with how physical and psychological aspects of race were (and are) rarely just monochromatic extremes.

October’s birthdays also include American Western painter Frederic Remington (October 4^th), and American Impressionist Childe Hassam on October 17^th. Veering forward to more modern worlds, Robert Rauschenberg and Roy Lichtenstein come in on October 22^nd and 27^th, respectively, along with the intense personalities of Pablo Picasso (October 25) and Francis Bacon (October 28).

The source for some of the October birthdays listed is the NY FEW (Figurative Expressive Works) Gallery’s Artist Birthday Calendar, which is interesting to take a look at to follow any particular astrological patterns among artists -- or to see who happens to share your own birthday. You might also investigate an artist you’re not too familiar with, like for this month finding out more about Vorticist/Surrealist British painter Edward Wadsworth (b. October 29, 1889). Click here for a short bio on Wadsworth and to view some of his complex and fascinating work.