Bill Traylor

“Bill Traylor was an American prodigy. Born into slavery, illiterate all of his life, at age 84, Traylor began to draw.... His drawings show an unerring ability to invent complex and harmonious compositions and to make brilliant use of negative space.”

—William Louis-Dreyfus

David Zwirner is pleased to present works by Bill Traylor (c. 1853 to 1949) from The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation and Family Collections.

Organized in collaboration with The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation and Family Collections, this exhibition offers a comprehensive look at Bill Traylor’s distinctive imagery. As part of the Foundation’s broader philanthropic mission, proceeds from the sales of its artworks will benefit the Harlem Children’s Zone as well as the Foundation itself.