Modern and Contemporary Art

Folk Art

Our newest focus area within our Modern and Contemporary Art Collection began with a donation of a Rudolph Bostic painting by Lakeland collector George Lowe and continued with the donation of a Ruby C. Williams painting by Winter Haven collectors Norma Canelas and William D. Roth. But during the fall of 2004, the Museum’s Folk Art Collection grew enormously. Thanks to Lakeland resident and folk art scholar Jane Backstrom, who made a donation of six important works by local folk artists Edward Ott, Joey Smollon, Margot Warren and Ruby C. Williams, the collection started to expand. Encouraged by the donation by Mrs. Backstrom, Lakeland folk artist and collector Rodney Hardee began making regular, significant donations of folk art. In addition, Mr. Hardee’s contacts with folk art galleries and folk artists from throughout the country have led to donations of works. In total, these donations have expanded the collection to over sixty artworks. Below you will find a sampling of works from this collection:

	Toby Ivey (American, b. 1944, Thompson, GA) Untitled, 2004 Acrylic and colored pencil on panel, 24" x 24" Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2004.16.4 Gift of Rodney C. Hardee
	Aurelia "Mama" Johnson (American, b. 1913, St. Petersburg, FL) Untitled, n.d. Marker on paper, 9" x 12" Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2004.16.6 Gift of Rodney C. Hardee
	Edward Ott (American, 1914-1997) Untitled, ca. 1996 Acrylic on canvas, 24" x 18" Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2004.17.1 Gift of Jane Backstrom
	Joey Smollen (American, 1927-2001) Black People Get Hungry Too!, 1934, ca. 1997 Acrylic, pen and collage on paper mounted on canvas board, 18" x 24" Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2004.17.3 Gift of Jane Backstrom
	Margot Warren (American, b. 1929) Untitled (God Bless America), ca. 1980 Acrylic on paper mounted on board in decorated frame, 24" x 30" Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2004.17.5 Gift of Jane Backstrom
	Ruby C. Williams (American, b.1930) Blackeyes, ca. 1995 Enamel on found wood, 14 3/4" x 48" Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2004.17.6 Gift of Jane Backstrom
	Rodney Hardee (American, b. 1954) Whiskers in the Garden, n.d. Acrylic on panel, 17" x 21" Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2004.21 Purchase through the Kent Harrison Memorial Acquisition Fund
	Cathey "Yehtac" Kalista (American, b. 1934) Untitled (Church Service), ca. 2004 Acrylic and glitter on plywood, 48" x 72" Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2005.10.9 Gift of Rodney C. Hardee
	John "Cornbread" Anderson (American, b. Lumpkin County, GA) Robins in Jonquils, ca. 2004 Acrylic on board, 20" x 16" Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2005.10.10 Gift of Rodney C. Hardee
	Purvis Young (American, b. 1943, Miami, FL) Untitled (Men on Horseback), n.d. Enamel on found wood with carpet, 24" x 48" Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2006.14.9 Gift of Rodney C. Hardee
	Jack "Mr. B" Beverland (American, b. 1939, Idaho Falls, ID) Hot Pink, 2006 Puffy paint on particle board, 14 3/4" x 19 1/4" PMoA #2006.14.18 Gift of Rodney Hardee
	Rodney Hardee (American) Barking in the Bushes at Night, ca. 1997 Acrylic on canvas board, 17 1/2" x 21 1/2" PMoA #2006.18.3 Gift of the Estate of Jane Carver Holmes

	Collections Main
	Modern & Contemporary Art
		Works on Paper
		Pattern & Decoration
		Paintings
		Photography
		Folk Art
		Sculpture
	Pre-Columbian Art
	Asian Arts
	African Art
	Decorative Arts
	Artists in the Collection
	Gifts of Art & Collection Needs
	Care & Evaluation of Your Art