David Butler American, 1898-1997

David Butler, born in Good Hope, Louisiana, was a self-taught artist who transformed his home and yard into a vibrant spiritual environment. Raised with deep Christian faith and steeped in African American and African folk traditions, Butler fused cultural and religious symbolism into cut, painted sculptures made from roofing tin. His kinetic works—featuring animals, ancestral spirits, and fantastical beings—came alive with wind and sunlight, turning his property into a dynamic, immersive installation.

After a workplace injury in 1962, Butler began making art full-time, crafting a yard show that served both as a protective sanctuary and a powerful artistic statement. Influenced by his carpenter father and missionary mother, he created colorful, symbolic pieces that blended biblical scenes with personal interpretations, such as The Last Supper window screen, which cast shifting light and shadow inside his home. Though collectors later sought his work, Butler resisted the art market, preferring to keep his creations rooted in the community and land that inspired them.