Purvis Young (American, 1943–2010) “Warriors Beneath a Burning Sky”

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Purvis Young (American, 1943–2010)
“Warriors Beneath a Burning Sky”
Acrylic and mixed media on found poster board
Signed Young lower … Read more Purvis Young (American, 1943–2010)
“Warriors Beneath a Burning Sky”
Acrylic and mixed media on found poster board
Signed Young lower center
Dimensions: 48" W × 30" H
Circa 1980s–1990s

This large-scale, vibrantly expressive painting by Purvis Young captures one of his most enduring themes—the march of ancestral warriors and protectors moving together beneath a radiant sky of red, yellow, and ochre. Executed on a found piece of corrugated poster board, the work embodies Young’s signature practice of transforming discarded urban materials into transcendent visual narratives.

Rendered in sweeping, calligraphic strokes of black, ochre, and crimson, the figures appear to advance in unison, their raised arms and sinuous forms evoking struggle, faith, and endurance. The expressive border of deep blue and black underscores the improvisational quality of the piece, reinforcing the artist’s connection to street murals and spiritual storytelling.

A self-taught visionary from Miami’s historic Overtown district, Young used art to chronicle themes of oppression, redemption, and resilience, producing a body of work that bridges Outsider, Folk, and Urban Expressionist traditions. His paintings are held in major museum collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Rubell Museum in Miami.

Condition: Excellent overall for medium and scale; minor scuffs and surface wear consistent with the artist’s use of found materials.
Provenance: Private collection, Florida. See less