Geoffrey Lamont Holder (1930 – 2014, active/lived in New York, Spain) impressionist oil on canvas profile portrait painting depicting a black female, seated with her arms crossed, wearing a white dress and red head wrap, against a mottled gold backdrop. Signed and dated lower left "G. Holder '57". Remnants of illegible label en verso top center stretcher. Unframed. 29" H x 9" W. Artist's Biography: Geoffrey Lamont Holder was a multi-talented Trinidadian-American dancer, choreographer, actor, composer, designer, and painter, who was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in 1930. Holder relocated to New York City in 1953. and he received a Guggenheim fellowship in painting in 1957. He is known for still life and figure painting, photography, sculpture, and set and costume design. In addition to painting, Holder performed with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet as a principal dancer and performed on Broadway. He was the choreographer, costume designer, and director of the Broadway show "The Wiz" for which he won two Tony Awards. Additionally, he acted in several movies and television shows and was an advertising spokesman for 7 UP and other products.

CONDITION: Overall light craquelure, very light wear to margins, mostly to lower corners. In-painting to right side of face and upper right torso with a few minor areas of in-painting to dress, visible under blacklight inspection.