A Look Back at Beauford-Inspired Verse

As poets gather at the UT Downtown Gallery in Knoxville for an ekphrastic poetry reading inspired by the Degrees of Separation exhibition, I am reminded that long before the launch of The Beauford Delaney Project, the Les Amis blog has featured poems and essays by writers who found inspiration in Beauford's life and art.

In celebration of today's poetry reading in Knoxville, I’m sharing links to earlier posts that feature poems and images of the works that inspired them.

Click on the links to enjoy the poetry and associated narratives.

Cid Corman’s Poetic Tribute to Beauford

Chartres
(1954) Oil on paperboard
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Life

Nativity Scene
(1961) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Grievances from a Soul of Sorrow

Untitled
(1962-1964) Gouache on paper
Signed and dated "Paris, 1964"
Inscribed: "for Amy(?) Erica + Tully, Paris August 20, 1962, with fond regards"
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Sunlight Drifters

Untitled
(1966) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Woman in an Abstract Field - After Beauford Delaney

Untitled (Woman in an Abstract Field)
(1966) Oil monotype, with hand-painted additions in oil,
on cream wove paper
Image courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY