tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85767709564317251592026-04-11T02:01:55.680+02:00Les Amis de Beauford DelaneyA blog that describes the efforts of a small group of individuals to preserve the French gravesite, and the memory, of painter Beauford Delaney.About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.comBlogger818125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-65216317954944169582026-04-11T00:00:00.105+02:002026-04-11T00:00:00.115+02:00Beauford in Six Minutes or LessLast week, I came across a well crafted, 4:19-minute video about Beauford in a recently launched series about art history. Catherine, the creator of the series, chose to feature Beauford in her first episode.
Artist Series Ep.1 - Beauford Delaney
Viewing this video inspired me to look for others that grasped the essence of Beauford's life and/or work in a relatively short period of time.
About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-72966624976671724682026-04-04T00:00:00.018+02:002026-04-04T00:00:00.112+02:00Swann Auction Galleries Sells Four Beauford Delaney WorksSwann Auction Galleries sold all four of the Beauford Delaney works it offered during its April 2, 2026 African American Art auction.
Two were figurative portraits and two were abstracts. All were works on paper.
Untitled (Portrait of a Young Man in Suit and Tie) was valued at $7,000 - $10,000.
Lot 9
Untitled (Portrait of a Young Man in Suit and Tie)
(circa 1940) Color pastels on pale About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-58809466880295554392026-03-28T00:00:00.261+01:002026-03-28T13:28:05.358+01:00A Sleeping BeautyDavid Byrne - award-winning musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker - performed his David Byrne - Who Is The Sky? concert yesterday at the Big Ears Festival in Beauford's home town of Knoxville, TN.
David Byrne - Everybody Laughs
Photo credit: Shervin Lainez
Byrne is featuring Beauford in his upcoming book, Sleeping Beauties, which is all about brilliant ideas that got overlooked or About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-12361533329477482942026-03-21T00:00:00.130+01:002026-03-21T00:00:00.118+01:00Four Beauford Delaney Works to be Auctioned on April 2, 2026On April 2, 2026, Swann Auction Galleries will offer two of Beauford's early portraits and two of his vibrant abstracts—all works on paper—for auction at its African American Art Sale.
Swann offered both portraits for purchase at its Autumn 2017 sale of African American Fine Art.
Lot 9
Untitled (Portrait of a Young Man in Suit and Tie)
(circa 1940) Color pastels on pale gray wove paper
23 1/2 About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-4622582123166761372026-03-14T00:00:00.074+01:002026-03-14T00:00:00.114+01:00More of Beauford's BluesI recently came across an article on color psychology that described various reactions to and interpretations of the color "blue."
It reminded me that Les Amis has published two articles about Beauford's use of this color:
Beauford's Blues - Part 1
Beauford"s Blues - Part 2
And it inspired me to look for additional works that feature light blue, a color that is frequently associated with About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-24746472511366424172026-03-07T00:00:00.073+01:002026-03-07T00:00:00.117+01:00Beauford's GeographiesThe Light Beyond the Canvas catalog for The Beauford Delaney Papers—the largest existing archive for Beauford's life and work—provides an intriguing glimpse into the wonders of this archive, which is held by the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives at the University of Tennessee Knoxville University Libraries.
Light Beyond the Canvas catalog
© Les Amis de Beauford About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-41154957083183907372026-02-28T00:00:00.002+01:002026-02-28T00:00:00.114+01:00Nadeau's Sells Beauford's Abstract Composition in Red On February 21, 2026, Nadeau's Auction Gallery of Windsor, CT offered Beauford's Abstract Composition in Red for sale during its 2026 Custom Furnishings, Antiques, Fine Art, & Decor auction.
Abstract Composition in Red
(undated) Oil on paper
Marked lower right Beauford Delaney
24″ x 17 1/2″ sheet
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-75781118195306706232026-02-21T00:00:00.105+01:002026-02-21T00:00:00.116+01:00Beauford's Jean-Claude Killy-Inspired WorksAs the 2026 Winter Olympics come to a close in Italy and France prepares to host the 2030 Winter Games, my thoughts turn to Beauford's paintings of Jean-Claude Killy.
In 2014, Les Amis posted about an abstract work entitled Jean-Claude Killy that Beauford painted in 1962.
Jean-Claude Killy
(1962) Gouache on paper
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-6578818418941187562026-02-14T00:00:00.206+01:002026-02-14T00:00:00.115+01:00Abstracts Sold, To Be Sold, and on DisplaySOLD
On February 12, 2026, Sotheby's sold Beauford's untitled 1960 abstract for the sum of 20,320€, including a 27% buyer's premium.
Lot 299
Untitled
(1961) Gouache on paper
signed and dated (lower right)
63,9 x 50 cm; 25 x 19 ½ in.
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY
About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-9600795224395512552026-02-07T00:00:00.020+01:002026-02-07T00:00:00.114+01:00Beauford Delaney Abstract at Sotheby's Contemporary Discoveries SaleOn February 12, 2026, Sotheby's Paris will auction a Beauford Delaney abstract work on paper.
Lot 299
Untitled
(1961) Gouache on paper
signed and dated (lower right)
63,9 x 50 cm; 25 x 19 ½ in.
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY
This work is created in the same style asAbout Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-49019862678988515282026-01-31T00:00:00.082+01:002026-01-31T00:00:00.115+01:00Fun Facts about Beauford: The Boston YearsCompared to other periods of Beauford Delaney’s life, his years in Boston (1923 - 1929) are the least well documented in the historical record.
Today, in the first of a series of articles that present "fun facts" about him, I am taking a look at this critical period of his adult life.
Almost immediately upon moving to Boston, Beauford entered into a circle of "high society folks"—White and About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-26793353840145706172026-01-24T00:00:00.002+01:002026-01-24T00:00:00.115+01:00Withdrawn and Working and Thinking...In Amazing Grace: A Life of Beauford Delaney, biographer David Leeming presents a quote from a letter that Beauford wrote to his friend, Larry Wallrich, on January 8, 1957.
In the letter, Beauford said that he had been
withdrawn and working and thinking these past several months and plan somehow to even withdraw more, as deep introspection and [the] search for me is vitally necessary ....
About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-54788835289843643182026-01-17T00:00:00.018+01:002026-01-17T18:26:23.418+01:00Beauford at the Artists' GalleryIn Amazing Grace: A Life of Beauford Delaney, biographer David Leeming writes:
By 1948 Beauford was finally recognized as a member of the expressionist movement in New York. He was given a solo exhibit at the Artists Gallery on 57th Street in May. He wrote to Billy Rose in May that the 57th street show meant something special to him because it justified the support by his friends of his "About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-36370368139605421402026-01-10T00:00:00.226+01:002026-01-10T00:00:00.115+01:00Winter (the Fourth Season) at Sainte-Anne's HospitalOver the past couple of years, I have written about the landscape at Sainte-Anne's Hospital* in the spring, summer, and fall.
Today, I'm rounding out this series of articles with a post about Sainte-Anne's in the wintertime.
In December 2025, the view of the hospital from boulevard Saint-Jacques was somewhat marred by the construction on rue Ferrus.
View of Sainte-Anne's Hospital from About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-37231143033167441212025-12-20T00:00:00.140+01:002025-12-20T00:00:00.114+01:00Two Buildings for BeaufordAs 2025 comes to a close, Knoxville continues to honor Beauford and his family in one of the most auspicious ways possible—by working on buildings named after them.
That's right - buildings (in plural)!In August 2021, ground was broken on the Delaney Museum at Beck.
The Beck Cultural Exchange Center acquired the Delaney family's last homestead in 2015 with the intent to restore the home About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-31991609665693580372025-12-13T00:00:00.633+01:002025-12-13T00:00:00.114+01:00Sweet 16 - Celebrating Les Amis' Milestone AnniversaryOn December 14, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney will celebrate sixteen years of honoring Beauford's brilliance through the Les Amis blog.
This anniversary is important because it marks a major transition in the life of the blog, which has grown into both a beloved source of stories for casual readers and a valuable reference for scholars wishing to explore Beauford’s life and art.
To honor this About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-62704067623398552522025-12-06T00:00:00.119+01:002025-12-06T00:00:00.116+01:00Beauford's Portrait of Peter EyreHauser and Wirth in London has a Beauford Delaney portrait for sale.
The sitter was Peter Eyre.
Peter Eyre
(1960) Oil on canvas
67.5 x 56.5 x 4.3 cm / 26 5/8 x 22 1/4 x 1 3/4 inches (framed)
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY
Eyre is a U.S.-born stage and screen actor About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-73028200961996228542025-11-29T00:00:00.006+01:002025-11-29T00:00:00.113+01:00Additional recent sales of Beauford's workLast week, Les Amis reported on the record breaking sale of Beauford's portrait of James Baldwin entitled The Sage Black.
This week, we're announcing additional recent sales of Beauford's work.
Phillips held its Modern and Contemporary Art Day Sale, Morning Session in New York on November 21, 2025. Lot 183 was a beautiful Beauford Delaney watercolor on paper, the provenance of which lists the About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-24431570593605077892025-11-22T00:00:00.009+01:002025-11-22T00:00:00.119+01:00The Sage Black - Sold by Christie'sDuring its 20th Century Evening Sale on November 17, 2025, Christie's sold Beauford's The Sage Black from the Collection of Robert and Faye Davidson.
Lot 20 A
The Sage Black
(1967) Oil on canvas
signed, inscribed, titled and dated 'The Sage Black Beauford Delaney Paris 1967'
(on the reverse)
35 ½ x 33 in. (90.2 x 83.8 cm.)
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-14753151706691717992025-11-15T00:00:00.069+01:002025-11-15T00:00:00.119+01:00Christie's to Auction The Sage BlackChristie's will auction Beauford's iconic portrait of James Baldwin entitled The Sage Black during its 20th Century Evening Sale on November 17, 2025.
Lot 20 A
The Sage Black
(1967) Oil on canvas
signed, inscribed, titled and dated 'The Sage Black Beauford Delaney Paris 1967'
(on the reverse)
35 ½ x 33 in. (90.2 x 83.8 cm.)
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-36900883394245681272025-11-08T00:00:00.001+01:002025-11-08T00:00:00.122+01:00Finding Higher Ground: Beauford at the Bistro at the BijouThe Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) has the largest public collection of Beauford's work in the world.
Knoxville Museum of Art
© Wells International Foundation
It has created a space dedicated to works by Beauford and his brother, Joseph, as part of its permanent exhibition entitled Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee.
Beauford Delaney works in Higher Ground About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-13949528428944145142025-11-01T00:00:00.003+01:002025-11-01T00:00:00.119+01:00Following Love...In October 1954, Beauford wrote:
"The privilege and right of choice and following love in all its difficult and painful rhythm, knowing the satisfaction that comes from the power of feeling and stimulation that comes from those we love; it's the essence of our work."
Today, I am presenting images of several of Beauford's abstracts, currently held by the Knoxville Museum of Art, that evoke this About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-31995483583528655792025-10-25T00:00:00.006+02:002025-10-25T00:00:00.115+02:00Two Jazz AbstractsA couple of days ago, I attended the vernissage (opening) for a retrospective show of work by sculptor Melvin Edwards at the Palais de Tokyo Contemporary Art Center in Paris' 16th arrondissement.
The space used to be occupied by the Musée National d'Art Moderne, which may be where Beauford attended a 1967 course in modern art featuring Braque, Picasso, and Vlaminck.
(The other possibility is About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-3477615506323186192025-10-18T00:00:00.031+02:002025-10-18T00:00:00.120+02:00Piasa Sells Beauford Delaney AbstractOn October 16, 2025, Piasa auctioned a single yellow abstract painting during its Modern and Contemporary Art sale.
Untitled, Paris
(1967) Oil on panel
Signed lower left
Counter-signed, dated and located on the reverse
94.5×70.5cm / 37.2x27.7in
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576770956431725159.post-75167095126709685132025-10-11T00:00:00.004+02:002025-10-11T00:00:00.114+02:00Piasa Offers a Beauford Delaney Abstract for SalePiasa is no stranger to Beauford's work, having sold six of his paintings and works on paper during its June 2023 Modern and Contemporary Art sale.
On October 16, 2025, the auction house will offer a single yellow abstract painting during its upcoming Modern and Contemporary Art sale.
Untitled, Paris
(1967) Oil on panel
Signed lower left
Counter-signed, dated and located on the reverse
94.5About Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.com0