Woodie Long American, 1942-2009

Woodie Long was known for his vivid, memory-rich paintings depicting scenes of rural life and childhood. Born in Plant City, Florida, he was one of twelve children in a sharecropping family and worked in the fields from a young age, never attending formal school.

Long spent 25 years as a house painter before health issues ended his career in 1987. Seeking an outlet, he began painting with his wife’s art supplies and quickly found his voice as an artist. His first public show was a success, selling nearly all his works.

Drawing from personal memories, Long created vibrant, narrative-driven paintings filled with joy and spontaneity. His work has been exhibited widely and is held in the collections of institutions including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Columbus Museum, and the Wiregrass Museum of Art. His work has also appeared in national publications and media, and is part of private collections including those of Tommy Lee Jones and the House of Blues.

Long died in 2009 in Alabama, where he lived with his wife, Dot, and continued to paint until his final days.