Purvis Young Exhibition at Rubell Family Collection Explores Outsider Artist's Vision

From December 3, 2018, to June 29, 2019, the Rubell Family Collection in Miami's Wynwood Art District presented an exhibition of works by Purvis Young (1943-2010). The outsider artist, who resided in Liberty City, Miami, created paintings using found objects like tape, doors, and wood, reflecting his response to social issues such as the civil rights movement, urban violence, and drug use. His art, initially appearing haphazard, reveals acute insights into the human condition across 14 thematic sections. These sections delve into Young's obsessions, ranging from history and politics to mystical angels and holy men. Notable works include jail cells that blend minimal abstraction with social commentary, and small boats evoking allegorical doomsday, reminiscent of Albert Pinkham Ryder in their textured darkness. The exhibition highlights moments of pure mastery in Young's makeshift constructions, showcasing his passionate and singular artistic plane.