Jerry Williamson

Portrait of a Performer by Jerry Williamson

2007

About Jerry Williamson (1926 - 2016) was active/lived in California, Washington / France. Jerry Williamson is known for Portrait painting, street performers, and more. Jerry Williamson (1926 - 2016) was active/lived in California, Washington / France. Jerry Williamson is known for Portrait painting, street performers, and more. After being a hair colorist for 10 years working with pigments, traveling the world for Elisabeth Arden, and working for TV stars and theater performers. In 1950 he opened with a friend a beauty shop that grew into a chain called Beauty Plus that would eventually consist of 11 shops and 120 operators. Jerry closed the shop in 1984 when his partner became ill. It was at this time that the formative experience of the Huntington Art Museum visit began to reassert itself in his life trajectory. He started painting seriously at that time. In 1996, he moved to France where he stayed until 2003 to soak up and be part of the art community there. He didn’t speak French but as he said: "Art is hands-on, so language isn’t that necessary.” Inspired by the “Saltimbanques” of the French circus troupes, Jerry’s haunting and evocative portrait collection explore the faces and personalities of performers he has met over the years. “It’s a power of one unity - we all enjoy art – we are all one community.” This painting is one of the collections. It is made with gouache and charcoal on a slightly shimmering black canvas.