Elijah Pierce

Elijah Pierce (1892–1984) was a self-taught African American artist from Columbus, Ohio, best known for his expressive wood carvings. A barber by trade, he carved in his spare time, creating deeply personal works that reflected his Christian faith, African American history, everyday life, and social injustice. Though largely unknown for much of his life, Pierce gained national recognition in the 1970s and is now regarded as a major figure in American folk and outsider art.