FLOYD GORDON American, 20th century Two works: "Labor in the Cotton Field" together with "Harvest at the Homestead" Oil on canvas. Two works: Largest one is signed "FONTAINE 2008" while the smaller one is signed by South Carolina artist: Floyd Gordon. Both interpret the theme of rural labor and the American landscape. The larger, unframed work on the left by Fontaine (dated 2008) utilizes a heavy impasto technique to depict a rustic cabin and field workers; the smaller framed piece on the right is a classic example of Southern Folk Art by artist Floyd Gordon. It features a "cotton picker." Both are signed. DIMENSIONS: Largest work (unframed): 18 x 24 inches $150-250
ARTIST PROFILE: Born in Rowesville, South Carolina, Floyd Gordon grew up as one of 13 children in a sharecropping family, spending his early years working in the cotton fields of rural Orangeburg County. While his exact birth date is not widely published, recent reports from February 2023 noted that he has been painting for approximately 75 years. An alumnus of Claflin University, Gordon was mentored by renowned art professor Arthur Rose and has since become a celebrated folk artist known for his vivid, colorful depictions of Southern heritage and rural culture. His career reached an early milestone in the seventh grade when his school principal set up a lunchroom gallery for his first painting sale. Today, he operates the Unique Art Gallery and Frame Shop in downtown Orangeburg and continues to receive high-profile recognition, such as being named the Featured Artist for the Penn Center’s 34th Annual Heritage Days Celebration in 2016.
