Bill Sawyer Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Bill Sawyer Art Value Price Guide

Sep. 27, 2024
Bill Sawyer, oil on board
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
Bill Sawyer (American 1936-2020), oil on board titled Rainy Day at the Downtown Hotel signed lower right, 20" x 16", frame - 21 1/4" x 17 1/4". Competitive in-house shipping is available for this lot.
Pook & Pook Inc.
Jul. 06, 2024
Bill Sawyer Double-Sided Oil Painting, The Green Shanty
Est: $1,600 - $1,800
Bill Sawyer (American/Tennessee, 1936-2020), "The Green Shanty," c.1959, oil on canvas painting depicting a home with dilapidated storefront added to part of its facade. The sky above the structures is filled with a web of intersecting phone and electric lines, playing into the corner perspective of the painting. Signed "Bill Sawyer," lower right. En verso is a second painting, an expressionist landscape depicting bare trees against a dark, tumultuous sky, unsigned. The back of the stretcher reads, "Bill Sawyer / The Green Shanty / My first successful painting of the other half, and the beginning of wonderful things." Canvas: 18" H x 14" W. Housed in a whitewashed molded frame, 22" H x 18" W. Biography: Bill Sawyer was a self-taught artist from Nashville. He is said to have taken up painting while stationed in France in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s. His first exhibition was in Nashville in May of 1959 and he went on to have one-man shows at Daniel Orr's Gallery in San Diego, the Little Gallery in Memphis, TN, and the Parthenon in Nashville. Joseph Patterson, then the president of the American Association of Museums, arranged for a show of Sawyer's work at the Durlacher Brothers Gallery in New York in 1964. Sawyer was the first untrained artist to have a one-man show at the gallery, and his second show there, in 1966, sold out. Shortly after this time, Sawyer traveled overseas. After his trip, for unknown reasons, he seems to have never painted again. He sought privacy, living quietly in Nashville, where he passed away in 2020. After 1966, his work went on to be exhibited at the Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood and in the Art of Tennessee exhibit at the Frist Museum (2006). PROVENANCE: By descent in the family of an early Nashville-area patron of Sawyer's works.
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Jul. 06, 2024
Bill Sawyer Modernist Oil, Man at Table
Est: $800 - $900
Bill Sawyer (American/Tennessee, 1936-2020) oil on canvasboard modernist painting depicting a young man seated alone at a table, his face half-shadowed. A bud vase holding a flower with a broken stem sits before him, with two dropped petals on the table, and the painting is rendered in melancholy shades of blue. Signed "Bill Sawyer" lower right. Whitewashed molded frame. Sight: 19 1/2" H x 15 1/2" W. Frame: 23 1/2" H x 19 1/2" W. Biography: Bill Sawyer was a self-taught artist from Nashville. He is said to have taken up painting while stationed in France in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s. His first exhibition was in Nashville in May of 1959 and he went on to have one-man shows at Daniel Orr's Gallery in San Diego, the Little Gallery in Memphis, TN, and the Parthenon in Nashville. Joseph Patterson, then the president of the American Association of Museums, arranged for a show of Sawyer's work at the Durlacher Brothers Gallery in New York in 1964. Sawyer was the first untrained artist to have a one-man show at the gallery, and his second show there, in 1966, sold out. Shortly after this time, Sawyer traveled overseas. After his trip, for unknown reasons, Sawyer seems to have never painted again. He sought privacy, living quietly in Nashville, where he passed away in 2020. After 1966, his work went on to be exhibited at the Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood, and in the Art of Tennessee exhibit at the Frist Museum (2006). PROVENANCE: Private Nashville Collection.
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Mar. 08, 2024
Bill Sawyer
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
(American/Tennessee, 1936-2020) See Her Face! Looking at the Freaks, signed under left steps "Bill Sawyer", oil on board, 20 x 16 in.; modern painted frame, 21-1/4 x 17-1/4 in. Provenance: Tennessee Fine Arts Center; Property of a Southern Museum sold to benefit the Acquisition Fund Note: Bill Sawyer was a self-taught artist from Nashville. He is said to have taken up painting while stationed in France in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s. He went on to have several shows in several cities in the United States including San Diego, Memphis, Nashville and New York. He "mysteriously" stopped painting in the 1970s and lived in Nashville until he passed away in 2020.
Brunk Auctions
Jan. 27, 2024
Bill Sawyer O/B Painting, Feeding Birds on an Empty Square
Est: $2,400 - $2,800
Bill Sawyer (American/Tennessee, 1936-2020) oil on board painting depicting a distant, white-haired figure standing in a large, empty plaza or square with back turned toward the viewer. He feeds a group of pigeons gathered at his feet while gazing toward the cloudy, pale blue sky that fills the upper two-thirds of the composition. The orthogonal lines of the plaza lead toward a vanishing point at center right. Signed "Bill Sawyer" lower left. Housed in a speckled, gray wooden frame. Sight: 13 1/2" H x 17 1/2" W. Frame: 17 7/8" H x 21 7/8" W. Biography: Bill Sawyer was a self-taught artist from Nashville. He is said to have taken up painting while stationed in France in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s. His first exhibition was in Nashville in May of 1959 and he went on to have one-man shows at Daniel Orr's Gallery in San Diego, the Little Gallery in Memphis, TN, and the Parthenon in Nashville. Joseph Patterson, then the president of the American Association of Museums, arranged for a show of Sawyer's work at the Durlacher Brothers Gallery in New York in 1964. Sawyer was the first untrained artist to have a one-man show at the gallery, and his second show there, in 1966, sold out. Shortly after this time, Sawyer traveled overseas. After his trip, for unknown reasons, Sawyer seems to have never painted again. He sought privacy, living quietly in Nashville, where he passed away in 2020. After 1966, his work went on to be exhibited at the Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood, and in the Art of Tennessee exhibit at the Frist Museum (2006).
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Jul. 08, 2023
Bill Sawyer Oil on Board Painting, "Fishing Worms"
Est: $3,000 - $3,400
Bill Sawyer (American/Tennessee, 1936-2020) oil on board painting depicting a large old white house and outbuildings, set in a stark winter landscape with bare trees. The sole splashes of color come from the blue jeans and red pinafore of a man and child, standing on the porch, and from a homemade, red-lettered sign advertising "Fishing Worms", sticking out of the grass beside a dirt road. Signed "Bill Sawyer" lower left, near road. Housed in a stained wood frame with linen mat. Lyzon Gallery (Nashville) framing label en verso. Board - 18" H x 24" W. Frame - 25" H x 31" W. Biography: Bill Sawyer was a self-taught artist from Nashville. He is said to have taken up painting while stationed in France in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s. His first exhibition was in Nashville in May of 1959 and he went on to have one-man shows at Daniel Orr's Gallery in San Diego, the Little Gallery in Memphis, TN, and the Parthenon in Nashville. Joseph Patterson, then the president of the American Association of Museums, arranged for a show of Sawyer's work at the Durlacher Brothers Gallery in New York in 1964. Sawyer was the first untrained artist to have a one-man show at the gallery, and his second show there, in 1966, sold out. Shortly after this time, Sawyer traveled overseas. After his trip, for unknown reasons, Sawyer seems to have never painted again. He sought privacy, living quietly in Nashville, where he passed away in 2020. After 1966, his work went on to be exhibited at the Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood, and in the Art of Tennessee exhibit at the Frist Museum (2006).
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Feb. 10, 2023
Bill Sawyer (American, 1936-2020) Mister, will you come back?, c. 1966
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
Bill Sawyer (American, 1936-2020) Mister, will you come back?, c. 1966 oil on masonite signed Bill Sawyer (center left); signed and titled (verso) 16 x 20 inches. Property from the Collection of Mary M. Woodward
Freeman’s | Hindman
Jun. 26, 2022
Pantry House - Bill Sawyer
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
Bill Sawyer (1936-2020) Young girl in front of a house. Oil on masonite. Condition: Inspected under UV light. No restoration noted. Frame H 24" W 19-3/4" Sight H 19-3/8" W 15-3/8". Bill Sawyer was a self-taught artist from Nashville, Tenn. He is said to have taken up painting while stationed in France in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His first exhibition was in Nashville in May of 1959 and he went on to have one-man shows at Daniel Orr's Gallery in San Diego, the Little Gallery in Memphis, TN, and the Parthenon in Nashville. Joseph Patterson, then the president of the American Association of Museums, arranged for a show of Sawyer's work at the Durlacher Brothers Gallery in New York in 1964. Copy and paste this link for high-res images: https://www.dropbox.com/s/907km2fiftlehu4/1056842_2.jpg?dl=0
New England Auctions
Jan. 29, 2022
Bill Sawyer O/B Painting, "Jones Comas"
Est: $1,000 - $1,400
Bill Sawyer (North Carolina/Tennessee, b. 1936) oil on board painting depicting an elderly man with downcast head, using crutches to walk down a deserted road. The sun is setting behind him, casting his shadow into the foreground. On his neck, he wears a sign reading "Jones Comas". The painting is rendered with clean lines and mathematical linear perspective. Signed "Bill Sawyer" lower left. Housed in a painted frame with a linen matte. Sight: 17 3/4" H x 13 1/2" W. Framed: 25 1/2" H x 21 1/4" W. Biography: Bill Sawyer was a self-taught artist from Nashville. He is said to have taken up painting while stationed in France in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His first exhibition was in Nashville in May of 1959 and he went on to have one-man shows at Daniel Orr's Gallery in San Diego, the Little Gallery in Memphis, TN, and the Parthenon in Nashville. Joseph Patterson, then the president of the American Association of Museums, arranged for a show of Sawyer's work at the Durlacher Brothers Gallery in New York in 1964. Sawyer was the first untrained artist to have a one-man show at the gallery, and his second show there, in 1966, sold out. Shortly after this time, Sawyer traveled overseas. After his trip, for unknown reasons, Sawyer seems to have never painted again. He sought privacy, living quietly in Nashville, where he passed away in 2020. After 1966, his work went on to be exhibited at the Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood, and in the Art of Tennessee exhibit at the Frist Museum (2006).
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Jan. 29, 2022
Bill Sawyer O/B Painting, Flower Growing from a Tire
Est: $1,800 - $2,200
Bill Sawyer (American/Tennessee, 1936-1920) oil on board painting titled "Flower Growing from a Tire". The painting depicts a young African American toddler sitting on the top step of a narrow red brick house with partially boarded window. In the foreground, a small group of flowers bloom in soil set into a planter fashioned from a tire. Signed "Bill Sawyer" lower right. Titled with a faintly visible inscription reading "from Bill Sawyer" en verso. Float mounted in a carved wooden frame with traces of gilt, an off white linen liner, and a white wooden fillet. Board: 16" H x 20" W. Framed: 22 3/4" H x 26 1/2" W. Biography: Bill Sawyer was a self-taught artist from Nashville. He is said to have taken up painting while stationed in France in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s. His first exhibition was in Nashville in May of 1959 and he went on to have one-man shows at Daniel Orr's Gallery in San Diego, the Little Gallery in Memphis, TN, and the Parthenon in Nashville. Joseph Patterson, then the president of the American Association of Museums, arranged for a show of Sawyer's work at the Durlacher Brothers Gallery in New York in 1964. Sawyer was the first untrained artist to have a one-man show at the gallery, and his second show there, in 1966, sold out. Shortly after this time, Sawyer traveled overseas. After his trip, for unknown reasons, Sawyer seems to have never painted again. He sought privacy, living quietly in Nashville, where he passed away in 2020. After 1966, his work went on to be exhibited at the Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood, and in the Art of Tennessee exhibit at the Frist Museum (2006).
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Jan. 25, 2020
Bill Sawyer Portrait of Black Man with Guitar
Est: $800 - $900
Bill Sawyer (American/Tennessee, b. 1936) oil on masonite portrait of a black man wearing a hat, striped shirt and large blue stone ring, smiling as he holds a guitar. "Property of C King" inscribed en verso in pen. Dark giltwood frame with egg and dart and bead molding and linen liner. Sight - 17 1/2" H x 13 1/2" W. Framed - 20 1/2" H x 24" W. Circa mid 1960s. Biography: Bill Sawyer was a self-taught artist. He graduated from Hillsboro High School in North Carolina, in 1954 and took up painting while stationed in France in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His first exhibition was in Nashville in May of 1959 and he went on to have one-man shows at Daniel Orr's Gallery in San Diego, the Little Gallery in Memphis, TN, and the Parthenon in Nashville. Joseph Patterson, then the president of the American Association of Museums, arranged for a show of Sawyer's work at the Durlacher Brothers Gallery in New York in 1964. Sawyer was the first untrained artist to have a one-man showthe gallery, and his second show there, in 1966, sold out. Shortly after this time, Sawyer traveled overseas. After his trip, for unknown reasons Sawyer vowed never to paint again. His whereabouts are currently unknown. Provenance: the estate of Victor T. Patterson, Franklin, TN. Note: born in Georgia and educated at the Parsons School of Design, Victor Patterson served as a cultural representative to Russia with Dwight D. Eisenhower's "People to People" program (prior to its privatization) before moving to the Nashville, Tennessee area to pursue a career in interior design. He was associated with Bradford's for many years before starting his own business. He decorated the Tennessee Governor's Mansion and the home of several country music stars in the 1970s, and filled his home on Franklin's historic Fourth Avenue with art and antiques from his frequent travels.
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Aug. 05, 2017
Bill Sawyer, O/B, Young Girl
Est: $800 - $1,200
Bill Sawyer (North Carolina/Tennessee, b. 1936) oil on board painting of a young girl in plaid dress standing under an arched bridge next to a curb, a discarded newspaper by her feet and tricycle to her left. A poster for "Pete Byrn State Sen." hangs above it and in the distance a man stands beside a shed with his back to the girl, facing a road. Signed Bill Sawyer, lower right. 24" x 20". Unframed. American, mid 20th century. Provenance: The estate of Dr. Benjamin H. Caldwell, Nashville, Tennessee. Biography (courtesy Askart: The Artists' Bluebook): Bill Sawyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Sawyer, was born in 1936 and was a self-taught artist. He graduated from Hillsboro High School, North Carolina, in 1954 and then took up painting "just to kill 30 months in France" while in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His first exhibition was in Nashville in May of 1959. Subsequently, he had one-man shows at Daniel Orr's Gallery in San Diego, the Little Gallery in Memphis, TN, and the Parthenon in Nashville. Joseph Patterson, then the president of the American Association of Museums, arranged for a show of Sawyer's work at the Durlacher Brothers Gallery in New York in 1964. A second show there, in 1966, sold out. Sawyer was the first untrained artist to have a one-man show at Durlacher's. His work went on to be represented at the Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood in Nashville and in many private collections. Shortly after this time Sawyer traveled overseas, and after his trip Sawyer went through a transformation and vowed never to paint again. (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com)
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Jul. 10, 2016
"Her most precious possession", Painting signed Bill Sawyer
Est: $200 - $300
"Her most precious possession", signed Bill Sawyer on verso, oil painting on board. Size: 20" x 16", 51 x 41 cm (board); 23" x 19", 58 x 48 cm (frame). Provenance: Bob Brand and Liz Werthan, Philadelphia.
Material Culture
Jul. 19, 2014
Bill Sawyer oil, "Little Girl with a Bouquet of Pink Flowers"
Est: $800 - $1,200
Bill Sawyer (Tennessee, b. 1936), "Little Girl With a Bouquet of Pink Flowers", oil on board painting depicting a child sitting on a fence in front of a red brick house with patched facade, signed lower right and titled en verso. 18" x 24" sight, 24" x 31" framed. Biography (courtesy "The Art of Tennessee" Exhibit Catalog): Self trained artist Bill Sawyer began painting as a way to pass the time while serving overseas in the Army. He is known for his views of towns in which the details of buildings, streets and sidewalks are precisely rendered. Provenance: the collection of Stephen and Lisa Steiner Small, Nashville, Tennessee, purchased Lyzon Gallery, Nashville, 1965 (receipt retained).
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Jan. 26, 2013
Bill Sawyer oil on board Abstract
Est: $400 - $500
Bill Sawyer (American/Tennessee, b. 1936) oil on board abstract cubist scene with human figures. Signed lower right. Molded wood frame. 17-3/8" x 13-3/8" sight, 23-5/8" x 19-5/8" framed. Provenance: estate of Jean and Alven Ghertner, Nashville, TN.
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Oct. 06, 2012
Bill Sawyer, oil on canvas streetscape
Est: $800 - $1,200
William "Bill" Sawyer (American/Tennessee, b. 1936) oil on canvas panel urban streetscape, depicting a deserted residential street with small square gray buildings and a bicycle. Signed lower right. Weathered wood frame. 17-1/8" x 27-3/4" sight, 23-3/4" x 34-3/4" framed. Provenance: estate of Jean and Alven Ghertner, Nashville, TN. Biography: A self trained artist, Bill Sawyer began painting while serving overseas in the U.S. Army. Buildings and streets, rendered in great detail, oftentimes deserted, are frequent subjects.
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Jan. 12, 2010
Bill Sawyer (AMERICAN, b. 1936)
Est: $700 - $900
Bill Sawyer (AMERICAN, b. 1936) Tom Thumb and his wife on the circus stage signed 'Bill Sawyer' (lower left) oil on masonite 16 x 20 in. (40.6 x 50.8 cm.)
Christie's
Jan. 12, 2010
Bill Sawyer (American, B. 1936)
Est: $800 - $1,200
Bill Sawyer (American, B. 1936) Late Afternoon at Kay's Boarding House and Restaurant tempera on board 24 x 30 in. (61 x 76.2 cm.)
Christie's
Jul. 01, 2008
Little girl with a bouquet of dandelions
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
Bill Sawyer (American, B. 1936) Little girl with a bouquet of dandelions signed 'Bill Sawyer' (lower left) oil on board 16 x 20 in. (40.6 x 50.8 cm.)
Christie's