Keeper of the Gate: Philip Simmons Ironwork in Charleston, SC. Image courtesy of the Lowcountry Digital History Initiative.
Meet historical and contemporary painters, folk artists, architects, and other artists who have worked and lived in South Carolina.
Be sure to also check out the South Carolina Art page for more about art styles and folk art.
Early South Carolina Artists
These artists lived and worked in our state before the Civil War.
- Henrietta Johnston (unknown-1729)
The first female professional artist in America - Charles Fraser (1782-1860)
Charleston artist who created over 500 miniature portrait paintings - Maria Martin Bachman (1796-1863)
19th century natural history painter who worked with John Audubon - Dave the Potter (about 1801- about 1870s)
A slave from Edgefield who engraved short poems on his stoneware pottery
Painters
Meet painters from several generations and from around the state.
- William Aiken Walker (1838-1921)
Painter who featured rural farm and plantation scenes - Alice Ravenel Huger Smith (1876-1958)
Artist during the Charleston Renaissance known for her watercolors and woodblock prints - Elizabeth O’Neill Verner (1883-1979)
Major figure of the Charleston Renaissance - Jonathan Green (1955- )
Contemporary African-American painter and printmaker
Metalsmiths
Metalsmiths work with iron and other metals to create their art.
- Philip Simmons (1912-2009)
Nationally acclaimed Charleston blacksmith - Digital Traditions - Metalsmithing
Jasper Johns (1930- )
Jasper Johns grew up in Allendale, SC and has become an influential contemporary artist. He often uses symbols such as numbers, the US flag, and maps in his works.
Willard Hirsch (1905-1982)
Williard Hirsch was a sculptor from Charleston, SC who worked with clay, metal, and wood. The South Carolina Army National Guard created the video below highlighting his work on the National Guard armory panels.
Video courtesy of the SC Army National Guard via Youtube.
