George Williams

1911 - 1997

George Williams was born in 1911, on a farm in Amity County, Mississippi.  He lived on the farm until he was fourteen when he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he worked at a variety of jobs including road building, logging, and working on the railroad.  Williams, using a pocketknife for relaxation, started carving small “hoodoo” heads which he would wear around his neck.  At first, carving was something he did "in his spare time.” Williams carved crucifixion scenes, human figures, and animal forms including alligators, bulls, leopards, horses, and pigs. Occasionally he would create walking sticks with encircling snakes.  His first paid work as a carver was two large heads on cedar posts and took about a week to complete. He was quite happy to sell his small carvings for a dollar apiece.  After ten such sales had been completed, he would leave town, convinced that people would get after him for overcharging. He preferred tupelo gum, cedar, or cypress wood.  The finished carvings are all painted with enamel and sometimes varnished.  ⁵

Williams was one of the artists featured in the landmark book and exhibits “Black Folk Art in America” 1930 - 1980.