The Life and Art of Dox Thrash
Dox Thrash was an African-American artist, skilled draftsman, master printmaker, and painter. Born in Griffin, Georgia, he moved north during the Great Migration, eventually working as an elevator operator in Chicago to fund his studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After serving in the 365th Infantry Regiment of the Buffalo Soldiers during World War I, where he experienced shell shock and a gas attack, he continued his education with federal support.
Thrash settled in Philadelphia by 1925. In 1937, he joined the W.P.A.'s Federal Art Project at the Fine Print Workshop of Philadelphia. There, alongside Michael J. Gallagher and Hugh Mesibov, he co-invented the carborundum printmaking process, a technique using a carbon-based abrasive on copper plates to create tones from pale gray to deep black. His work often focused on African American life, including pieces such as:
- Mr. X (an anonymous self-portrait)
- Cabin Days
- A New Day
- Life
- Saturday Night
- Marylou
Questions & Answers
How can I see every artwork made by Dox Thrash?
Every work by Dox Thrash on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.
What colors did Dox Thrash use most often?
Dox Thrash's use of color across the works listed on this website can be studied on the artist's Palette Genome page.
Where are Dox Thrash's artworks grouped by keywords?
The By Keywords page of Dox Thrash groups the artist's artworks by their keywords.
Can I explore Dox Thrash's works by color spectrum?
Dox Thrash's works can be explored by color on the artist's Spectral Index page.
