Dr. Eugene Poole Jr. Exhibits Black Jockey Quilt Series

Dr. Eugene Poole Jr., a self-taught artist, presents his "Legacy In Motion: Black Jockey Kentucky Derby Winners" quilt series at the Headley-Whitney Museum of Art. The "Storied Quilts" exhibition, running through December 6, features large-scale narrative textile art alongside pastel, oil, and acrylic jockey paintings.

Artist's Evolution to Textile Artistry

Poole, lacking formal art training, independently honed his artistic skills from childhood, drawing inspiration from nature and encyclopedias. His early creative endeavors included constructing imaginative structures. He pursued painting more seriously around 1990 while serving in the Air Force, influenced by Ernie Barnes's distinctive style of elongated figures and expressive movement. Poole's oil paintings gained a following between 1992 and 2012 before he took a nearly decade-long hiatus from art creation.

New Medium, Renewed Vision Returning to art in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Poole found his previous painting style felt "flat." He sought a more dimensional, tangible medium, which led him to explore quilting. His interest shifted from traditional quilt patterns to the process itself, aiming to transform the craft into meaningful, expressive contemporary narrative textile art.

Architectural Principles Guide Textile Work

Poole describes his work as a "Distinctive Visual Language of Monumental Contemporary Narrative Textile Art." He views his quilts as fine-art compositions serving as historical documents and cultural testimony. His professional background as an architect informs his artistic approach, emphasizing scale, proportion, geometry, line, spatial balance, construction, and detail within his compositions.

Rigorous Research Preserves History

Extensive research forms a core aspect of Poole's artistic practice. He studies the lives, accomplishments, and historical contexts of the individuals he portrays before translating their stories into fabric. This meticulous process, often requiring 300-400 hours per quilt, aims to communicate the humanity, dignity, and resilience of his subjects, preserving their stories through visual testimony.

Exhibition Highlights Black Jockey Legacy

The "Storied Quilts" exhibit features selections from Poole's "Legacy In Motion" series, honoring Black jockeys who won the Kentucky Derby. On October 18, Poole will deliver an artist talk at the Headley-Whitney Museum, offering further insight into his works and creative process. The exhibition aims to highlight the historical significance of these figures through a unique artistic lens.