MS125
Harry Lee Davis         

Harry L. Davis, born in Wilmington, NC,  is a self taught artist and operates the Davis Studio in Wilmington. Davis is an oil painter whose use of bold bright colors and his attention to detail has become his trademark. Davis focuses mainly on African American heritage and culture and his paintings have included themes such as African/Tribal, Americana, Spiritual and Boxers.  

Although he drew as a child, Davis had no formal art training. After an accident while a member of the 82nd Airborne Davis used painting as a form of therapy. Since then he has built a successful career and his paintings are owned by celebrities such as Denzel Washington, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby and institutions such as University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Home Savings and Loan Association, Wilmington and the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute at the University of Wisconsin, Monomania, WI. 

Davis has exhibited his work all over the United States in cities such as Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and New Orleans. Davis has also been working with North Carolina students since 1988 to help teach them about art and African culture. In 2001 he was named the Man of the Year by the Town Hall Community Education and Cultural Center in Wilmington.

This collection is a reflection of his artistic career featuring newspaper clippings, correspondence with celebrities and children and publications featuring his work. 

This collection has been designated Accession number 125 of the Manuscripts Collection, Special Collections Department, William Madison Randall Library, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 601 South College Road Wilmington, North Carolina 28403-3297.

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Processed by Mary Katherine M. Abbott
Manuscripts Collection
William Madison Randall Library
The University of North Carolina Wilmington
Summer 2006

Inventory
Manuscript/Box/File

125/1/1
Newspaper Clippings

125/1/2
Wayne County Public Schools Correspondence, related to a visit from Davis

125/1/3
Correspondence referring to his work including names such as Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee and Gloria Naylor

125/1/4
Contracts and Agreements

125/1/5
59th North Carolina Azalea Festival, 2006, cover designed by Davis, see p. 9

125/1/6
Web Print out from "The Virtual Muse," Davis' website featuring his work

125/1/7
Programs and Advertisements for Harry Davis exhibitions and work

125/1/8
Program referring to Davis as Man of the Year, 2001

125/1/9
Publication, Indulge, Vol. XI, Issue 1, mentions Davis p. 9

125/1/10
Publication, U.S. Art, Vol. 6 # 4, p. 60 Davis' art featured in article about boxing

125/1/11
Art exhibition brochures for 2006 NC Azalea Festival, The Event, and Art on the River; email correspondence

125/1/12
Newspaper Clippings, 2005

125/2/1
Prints by Harry Davis, all with Certificate of Limited Edition

Wodaabe Herdsman 124/200
The Baptism 271/500
Southern Legacy 157/300
Hausa Chieftain 322/750
Akie Tracker 144/300
After The Drought Artist Proof One of 20
Desert Charge 48/500 (Map Drawer 18)

COPYRIGHT:  Retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.