Oliver Lagrone Sold at Auction Prices

Sculptor

See Artist Details

0 Lots

Sort By:

Categories

    Auction Date

    Seller

    Seller Location

    Price Range

    to
    • Oliver LaGrone, 1906-1995, Sojourner Truth
      May. 20, 2023

      Oliver LaGrone, 1906-1995, Sojourner Truth

      Est: $2,500 - $3,500

      Oliver LaGrone 1906-1995 Sojourner Truth c. 1942 plaster with painted bronze patina 9-1/2 x 8-1/4 x 4 inches title incised in plaster, lower front edge; initialed and incised, "1797-1883" and artist's initials lower back edge. Examples of Oliver LaGrone's work is included in the book, "Harold Neal and Detroit African American Artists (1945 Through the Black Arts Movement)" by Julia R. Myers, Eastern Michigan University Art Galleries, 2020. Provenance: private collection, Michigan.

      Black Art Auction
    • Oliver LaGrone, 1906-1995, Sojourner Truth
      Nov. 19, 2022

      Oliver LaGrone, 1906-1995, Sojourner Truth

      Est: $4,000 - $6,000

      Oliver LaGrone 1906-1995 Sojourner Truth c. 1942 plaster with painted bronze patina 9-1/2 x 8-1/4 x 4 inches title incised in plaster, lower front edge; initialed and incised, "1797-1883" and artist's initials lower back edge. Provenance: private collection, Illinois to private collection, Michigan.

      Black Art Auction
    • OLIVER LAGRONE (1906 - 1995) Sojourner Truth.
      Dec. 10, 2020

      OLIVER LAGRONE (1906 - 1995) Sojourner Truth.

      Est: $7,000 - $10,000

      OLIVER LAGRONE (1906 - 1995) Sojourner Truth. Painted plaster, circa 1942. Approximately 241x209x102 mm; 9 1/2x8 1/4x4 inches high. Title incised in the plaster, lower front edge. Initialed and incised "1797 - 1883" and initials, lower back edge. Provenance: private collection, Illinois. This plaster bust is the first sculpture by Oliver LaGrone, sculptor, poet, educator, and humanitarian, to come to auction. LaGrone is known for his figurative sculpure of historical African American figures, and was the first African American student at the Cranbook Academy of Art. The Oliver LaGrone Scholarship for high school students in Harrisburg and the LaGrone Cultural Arts Center at Penn State Harrisburg are named after the artist. Born on December 9, 1906, in McAlester, Oklahoma Territory, to Lula Evelyn Cochran and William Lee LaGrone. His father was a minister at the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and an avid writer who encouraged LaGrone in his studies. LaGrone first attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he studied English and economics, planning on becoming a lawyer. With the strain of the Great Depresssion, he left school in the summer of 1929 to help his family move to Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1934 he attended the University of New Mexico where he worked as a teaching assistant to architect-sculptor, William Emmet Burk, Jr. Oliver graduated in 1938 with a Bachelor's Degree in sociology and fine arts. He also was among the many young artists employed by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). In 1937, he created his sculpture Mercy for the Carrie Tingley Children's Hospital. By 1941, LaGrone moved his young family to Detroit, and in the fall, at his wife's encouragement, he began studying with sculptor Carl Milles at Cranbrook Academy of Art. In March 1942, he won a McGregor Fund scholarship for advanced study in sculpture. LaGrone was the first African-American student to attend Cranbrook. In the Cranbook archives are several photographs of Lagrone in his sculpture studio, including one dated 1942 of him working with this bust. LaGrone went on to work as an art educator for over thirty years. Unable to serve in the military due to previous injuires, he worked as a director of art education for the United Auto Workers Union throught the 1940s. He participated in the renaissance of Black artists in Detroit, and began to wrote poetry, published them in the collection, Footfalls (1949). LaGrone returned to school, attending Wayne State University from 1956-1960 and received the equivalent of a Master of Arts in Special Education. Oliver worked in Detroit Public schools teaching arts and crafts and special education. In 1970, LaGrone was invited to lecture in art education and Afro-American history at Pennsylvania State University. In 1972, he was appointed Special Assistant to the Vice President of undergraduate education, and in 1975, became artist-in-residence for all 21 branches of the university system. LaGrone retired in 1976. The LaGrone Cultural Arts Center in the Olmsted Building at Penn State Harrisburg features several of the artist's sculptures and a small version of University as Family is in the campus's Rowland Sculpture Garden and his bust of Paul Robeson graces the black student offices of the PSU student union at State College, Pennsylvania. His sculptures are in the collections of University of New Mexico Hospitals, Albuquerque, the Albuquerque Museum, the LaGrone Cultural Arts Center, three campuses of Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania State Museum, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York. Biographical notes courtesy of Cranbook Academy of Art.

      Swann Auction Galleries
    Lots Per Page:

    Popular Artists

    Devices

    Get Invaluable on Your Phone

    Download the app via text link to get instantly notified if you’re outbid and receive auction reminders so you never miss out!

    Bid On-the-Go!

    Download the Invaluable app and never miss an auction from your iOS or Android device.

    App Store badgeGoogle Play badge
    Invaluable Logo

    As the world's leading online auction marketplace, thousands of auction houses use Invaluable to deepen relationships with millions of clients around the world. Stay connected to the things you love with curated items and auctions sent to your inbox.

    You can unsubscribe at any time. View ourPrivacy Policy.

    © 1986-2024 Invaluable, LLC. and participating auction houses. All Rights Reserved.

    TermsSubscription AgreementPrivacy PolicyCopyrightGDPR InfoPrivacy ChoiceYour Privacy ChoicesSite Map