Untitled Pregnant Woman in Red Dress
© Estate of Sulton Rogers
Sulton Rogers began carving wooden figures in 1970 to help him stay awake during his night shift job. As he recalls, “I always did have something I like to put on wood. I actually saw a piece of wood that kinda reminded me of something, and so I started carving.” Known for creating demons, freaks and “haints” (ghosts), his sculptures frequently distort the human body, as seen here in the bending noses, enlarged eyes and bulbous breasts. Although comical in their cartoonish exaggerations, Rogers’ misshapen figures also seem to suggest a darker undercurrent, as if their distorted features make physical their imperfections in character.
Exhibition Title: Go Figure Exhibition
Label Date: 2/7/2015
Type: Chat
Born in Mississippi, Rogers spent the majority of his adult life in Syracuse, NY, where he worked at a chemical plant. Taught to carve by his father at a young age, his skill came in handy while working the night shift at the plant. He continued to carve throughout his time in New York, but Rogers began working in wood in earnest following his retirement, eventually returning to Mississippi. He referred to his subjects as “haints,” a Southern term for ghosts, and his miniature houses full of the figures as “haint houses.” His forms were often exaggerated and abstracted as in the carving pictured and frequently referenced characters from the artist’s dreams.
Exhibition Title: Asheville Art Museum: An Introduction to the Collection
Label Date: 2021
Type: Catalogue Entry
Written by: Andrew Glasglow
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