Houston, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/07/2014 -- Contemporary African American artist T. Ellis will tour and then sell a collection of paintings inspired by Juneteenth, the annual celebration held on June 19 that commemorates the emancipation of African American slaves in Texas in 1865.
The art collection, titled the Juneteenth Freedom Project, will be sold by T. Ellis Fine Art, Inc. for $1.5 million before next year’s Sesquicentennial anniversary on June 19, 2015.
Ellis started working on the Juneteenth Freedom Project over ten years ago. The paintings illustrate images of slavery, emancipation, reconstruction, civil rights and the age of Obama. The Juneteenth Freedom Project also demonstrates the importance of the creative economy by leveraging and monetizing history, culture and art.
"Each one of the ten paintings is a powerful image that speaks of slavery and freedom in United States,” Ellis said. “These paintings are historical national treasures. It is my hope that the acquisition of the paintings will lead to the collection being donated to the Smithsonian African American Museum of Culture and History.”
The Juneteenth Freedom Project will travel through parts the U.S. before it is showcased at the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth in Galveston, Texas.
About T. Ellis
Ted Ellis is one of the leading African American contemporary artists capturing American culture and heritage. Boldly blending realism and impressionism, evoking nostalgia and inspiration, his paintings vividly pan through the social, spiritual, work and family life of his characters, creating a cultural heirloom for African Americans and a national treasure for America. His signature style of broad brush strokes and emotionally charged colors invite the viewer to genuinely feel the aura of each moment expressed. His work has been featured on local, regional and national television programs including MSNBC and in magazines such as Upscale, Southern Living and Newsweek and he has been commissioned by major corporations including Pepsi Cola, Walt Disney Studios, Exxon/Mobil, Merck, State Farm, The Minute Maid Company, The Coca-Cola Company, The Phillip Morris Corporation and Avon Incorporated. Ellis founded T. Ellis Fine Art, Inc. in 1991 to offer a wide variety of art with themes spanning from contemporary to traditional, including religious and historical settings.
Learn more about T. Ellis and his Juneteenth Freedom Project at www.tellisfineart.com. Follow T. Ellis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Contact:
Ted T. Ellis
P.O. Box 88045
Houston, TX 77288
800-222-3310
ted@tellisfineart.com
www.tellisfineart.com