Thomas Puryear Mims (American/Tennessee, 1906-1975) carved limestone abstract expressionist sculpture featuring intertwined organic, possibly human forms. Unsigned. 17 1/2 in H x 25 in W x 9 in D, approximately 160 pounds. Accompanied by a Puryear Mims retrospective exhibit catalog, published by the Tennessee Botanical Gardens and Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood, 1977. This sculpture does not appear to be listed in this catalog. Biography (from the aforementioned publication, by Philancy Holder): Born into a distinguished Southern literary family, Puryear Mims earned an English degree from Vanderbilt University and taught the subject for a brief period. His fascination with sculpture eventually led him to study at the Academie Julian in Paris and the Art Students League in New York, where he trained under two of America’s pioneer abstractionists, Robert Laurent and William Zorach. He also worked in the studio of the sculptor Saul Baizerman in New York. In 1934 he worked on the Mount Rushmore project as an assistant to Gutzon Borglum, but found it to be more “mechanical” than artistic. He returned to the Art Students League and eventually, to Nashville. Mims taught art at Vanderbilt University and in 1958 was appointed Sculptor in Residence. He created numerous public sculptures around Nashville, participated in several one-man and multi-artist exhibits, and, following his death, was the subject of a retrospective at Cheekwood. While Mims’s early work was largely representational, he was influenced by cubism in the late 1950s and evolved into an abstract, organic, curvilinear style of sculpture. Women as voluptuous, creative beings, in particular Eve and Athena, were frequent subjects in the 1960s. Mims retired from Vanderbilt in 1972 and taught privately until his death three years later.

PROVENANCE: Private Nashville, TN collection.

CONDITION: Some areas of wear and minor losses along base, overall good condition.