Day 1: Folk Art, Outsider & Self-Taught. Day 2: Two Private Native American Collections with Select Additions
Wed, Mar 11, 2026 10:00AM EDT
Live Auction
Lot 125
Charles Gillam and A.J. Boudreaux - Slim Harpo Obituary Shrine
Estimate: $500 - $750
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $200 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $50,000 |
Charles Gillam (Louisiana, b. 1945) and Sainte James 'A.J.' Boudreaux (1948–2024), Slim Harpo (1924–1970) obituary/memorial shrine. Mixed media: wood, paint, and metal, circa 1999. H 28 in. W 16 in. D 3-1/2 in.
Provenance: Purchased directly from artists Feb. 1998.
Charles Gillam was born in 1945 in rural Louisiana, and raised in the Ninth Ward neighborhood of New Orleans. He learned to paint by watching street artists in the French Quarter where he shined shoes with his brother. He often uses driftwood found in the Mississippi River for his sculptures. He received his first commission from the House of Blues who hired him to create a wood bust of the notable blues musician Charley Patton, the "father of Delta Blues". He has created over 100 busts of famous jazz musicians including portraits of Louis Armstrong and Aaron Neville. In 2000, Gillam, along with folk artist Dr. Charles Smith, founded the Algiers Folk Art Zone & Blues Museum. The Algiers Folk Art Zone & Blues Museum is a community-based art collective that features regional folk art and teaches the importance of recycling to children. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Blues Museum.
Sainte-James "A.J." Boudreaux/Boudrot was a vibrant fixture of the New Orleans outsider art scene, celebrated for his unique "funerary paintings" that transformed newspaper obituaries into colorful, narrative wooden panels. As a self-taught artist and a partner at the influential Barrister’s Gallery, he played a dual role as both a creator and a passionate advocate for Southern folk art. His work is characterized by a deep reverence for the lives of everyday people, blending whimsy with a poignant sense of local history. Today, Boudreaux is remembered as a flamboyant storyteller whose legacy remains etched in the vibrant, unconventional spirit of Louisiana’s art community.
Condition
Shipping/Pickup
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