George Ayers Cress (Alabama/Tennessee, 1921-2008) oil on board Cubist-style cityscape painting likely depicting Chattanooga, TN, with figures in lower left approaching a bridge (possibly the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge), numerous buildings including a church steeple, a road sign, and a billboard before distant mountains. All rendered in muted shades of green, red, and purple. Signed "George Cress 1953," lower right. Unframed: 22 1/4" H x 42" W. Biography: "George Cress was born in Anniston, Alabama and studied at Emory University, American University, and the University of Georgia, where he studied under fellow Southern contemporary artist Lamar Dodd. He was a central figure in Chattanooga's arts community and served as President of the Tennessee Arts Council. He sat on the board of the Hunter Museum of Art. From 1951-1984 he was painter in residence at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. The Cress Gallery of Art at UTC is named in his honor." (Source: The Tennessee Historical Quarterly Vol. XLIV No. 2: "Landscape and Genre Painting in Tennessee 1810-1985").

PROVENANCE: Property of the Hunter Museum of American Art.

CONDITION: Very good condition overall, with several scratches the largest being a negligible 16" L scratch to lower center, mainly visible in raking light, as well as minor 1" L scratches to billboard and to right of figures. Some negligible damage to corners, especially upper right.