Robert Cargo Folk Art Gallery

We have a wide selection of early works available in addition to the examples shown below. Our collection was purchased directly from Mose Tolliver during the 1980's. Subjects include self-portraits, crucifixions, flowers, birds, animals, erotic subjects, and more.

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Mose T painted on salvaged building materials using house paint left over from home redecorating projects often, that friends and neighbors would supply him. He also painted various objects--wooden boxes, trays, pieces of furniture, chairs and the like that fell into his hands--objects which might be likened to painted sculptures because of their three-dimensional qualities.

The paint was applied with a brush, dipped directly into the gallon buckets. Any mixing to achieve the required shades or hues, which could be remarkably subtle and delicate, was done on the board or object itself and not on a palette. The brush, full and loaded, was moved with complete control and certainty in long, steady, fluid strokes, unfalteringly. There was no preliminary marking of the surface to be painted to indicate the placement of the images. That seemingly came directly out of the artist's head and was infallible.

And he painted seated on the side of his bed. When the finished picture was dry, the final touch consisted in attaching a pull-tab from a soft drink or beer can to the top of the painting. This served as a hanger and became something of the artist's trademark. Family members would then hang the completed paintings on the walls of the artist's bedroom, the back hall, the living room, and sometimes in a son's bedroom, to be purchased by collectors.

One of the more prolific self-taught artists, Tolliver once told a visitor that he painted ten pictures a day and then stopped for the day. His subject matter was not extensive: women, especially those provocatively posed "on a scooter," men, self-portraits, flowers, animals, especially birds, snakes, turtles--endless variations on a few themes.

All the paintings we offer were obtained directly from the artist and as with the Sudduth works, were dated by me in pencil on the reverse side, lower left, at the time they were acquired. Because of problems of authenticity that emerged when various family members began to do work that was signed by Mose T, we discontinued adding to our inventory around 1990/1991.

References:
Arnett and Arnett, SOULS GROWN DEEP, 2000.
Kemp and Boyer, REVELATIONS. ALABAMA'S VISIONARY FOLK ARTISTS, 1994.
Ricco and Maresca, AMERICAN SELF-TAUGHT. PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS BY OUTSIDER ARTISTS, 1993.
Chuck and Jan Rosenak, both volumes, 1990 and 1996.
Sellen / Johanson, both volumes, 1993 and 2000.


Nall 30 x 18 SOLD	Nall, 1991 32 x 24 $1500

Whale Fish, 1987 13 x 29 $1200	Self-Portrait, 1987 13 x 28 1/2 $1000

Bird, 1987 20 1/2 x 24 $1500	Flowering tree with bird, ca 1987 17 1/2 x 18 1/2 $1500

Pig, 1985 14 1/2 x 30 1/2 SOLD	Flowering tree with bird, 1991 15 x 21 $1200

Dry Bones, 1986 16 x 14 $1500	Cat, Rat, Sun; 1985 12 x 20 1/2 SOLD

Bird with tree, 1986 23 x 23 1/2 $1500	George Washington, 1990 24 x 24 SOLD

Painted mini-pool table (front), ca 1988 28 x 28 $1200	Painted mini-pool table (reverse)

Animal on Red Ground, Ca. 1980 11 1/2 x 26 3/4 $1750	Bird, 1987 17 x 19 1/2 $1200

Bird and Tree, 1989 23 1/2 x 25 $1500	Birthing a Baby, 1991 22 1/4 x 12 1/4 SOLD

Box - interior, 1987 15 x 12 x 8" $1750	Box - exterior

Crucifixion, 1990 40 x 16 $1200	Drybones, 1986 24 x 12 SOLD

Woman, 1989 28 x 17 1/2 $1200	Man with Crutches/Self Portrait, 1990 32 x 16 1/4 $1200

Nall, 1991 32 x 24 $1500	Good Time Charlie, 1987 24 1/4 x 22 3/4 $1500

Woman with Man and Bird, 1986 painted on section of tree trunk 22 x 21 $1200	Self-portrait with bone in mouth, 1991 24 x 24 $1000