Lot 203
W.D. Harden Painting "Hellhound Walkin'..." (2005)
W.D. Harden Painting "Hellhound Walkin'..." (2005)
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W.D. Harden (American, XX-XXI century).. "Hellhound Walkin'..." paint on board, 2005. Signed and dated at lower right and titled at center. A bold and energetic work by Georgia outsider artist W.D. Harden, "Hellhound Walkin'..." features the artist's signature subject, the Hellhound, striding across a vivid red ground. Painted in bright yellow with jagged teeth and exaggerated limbs, the figure commands the surface with a raw, primal energy. Harden's Hellhounds are inspired by the legendary blues tale of Robert Johnson, who was said to have sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for musical genius, only to be pursued for life by hellhounds sent to enforce the bargain. Here, Harden channels that myth through the visual language of Southern folk art, employing a bold primitive style and found material - paint on scrap board - to create an image both playful and menacing. With its rhythmic outlines and fierce expression, the Hellhound becomes a symbolic collector of debts owed, a figure at once cultural, musical, and spiritual. Size: 24.125" W x 23" H (61.3 cm x 58.4 cm)
The work exemplifies Harden's ability to merge personal vision, musical inspiration, and regional storytelling into a colorful, instantly recognizable style.
About the artist: Born and raised in Georgia, W.D. Harden has become a celebrated figure in the world of Southern outsider and folk art. A self-taught artist with deep roots in music and storytelling, Harden is best known for his recurring signature character: the "Hellhound." Inspired by the legend of bluesman Robert Johnson, who was said to have sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his unparalleled musical talent, Harden reimagines the Hellhound as a relentless enforcer of that dark bargain. With reverence to Johnson and to folk art greats such as R.A. Miller, Harden has transformed this figure into an enduring symbol within his artistic universe.
Harden's work is unmistakablepainted in vivid colors on scrap wood, tin, or found metal, with bold, primitive lines that echo the unvarnished spirit of Southern vernacular art. Alongside Hellhounds, his creations often feature Elvis, portraits of musicians, lively critters, and surreal cityscapes. Over the years, his cast of characters has expanded to include Flying Hellhounds, Helligators, guitar-tailed snakes, and abstract totems, sometimes veering into biting satire or raw abstraction. His assemblages of recycled objects and "groove-ilicious" totems further reveal his restless imagination and inventive hand.
Music is at the heart of Harden's process. A guitarist himself, he paints with the energy of a jam session, channeling the rhythms of the blues, the Southern rock of the Allman Brothers, the cosmic poetry of Tom Waits, and the raw soul of Robert Johnson. The lyrics and legends of American roots music provide both inspiration and cadence to his brushstrokes.
R.A. Miller, a towering figure in Southern outsider art, was both an influence and later a mentor to Harden. Other inspirations include Rev. Howard Finster, Tubby Brown, St. E.O.M., Bill Traylor, and Jim Sudduth, alongside newer creative peers such as Eric Legge and Jon Whiddon. Harden also cites the influence of contemporary musicians and artists, reminding us that his vision is as forward-looking as it is rooted in tradition.
Since the late 1990s, Harden has exhibited widely at folk art festivals and institutions across the South and beyond, including Finster Fest, Slotin Folk Fest in Atlanta, Cooper-Young Art Fest in Memphis, AthFest in Athens, GA, and even the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach. His works have been featured at the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta and the Mennello Museum of Art in Orlando, and they have traveled as far as Albuquerque's Yard Fest. Collectors across the United States and internationally continue to seek out his work, which he has sold through venues ranging from regional shows to his online "Hellhound Folk Art" store.
Today, back in his home state of Georgia, Harden continues to live and work with the same spirit of play, grit, and reverence that first inspired him. His art reflects not only a fascination with myth, music, and memory but also a determination to live a joyful, creative life. The road goes on, and with it, the Hellhound still runs - fiery, colorful, and uniquely W.D. Harden.
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection
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#197554
- Condition: Miniscule chip to upper left corner. Vertical split of about 2.5 inches and small scratch to upper left, but, otherwise, painting is in good condition with clear pigments and imagery.
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