I first learned about Bill Traylor on CBS Sunday Morning in April of 2019

There is something wonderful about this self-trained artist. He was born a slave and was emancipated as a young teen by the Union cavalry. His work was never recognized by the art world when he was alive.

I like the simplicity of the geometric forms along with the stories they convey. It reminds me a bit of Matisse’s paper cutout forms. Traylor’s art was created on the backs of discarded cardboard packages or any other stray paper he could find.

Read more about Bill Traylor in the New Yorker about Folk Artist Bill Traylor.

You can also watch this video of Matisse making a paper cutout: