Valerie J. Maynard

Valerie J. Maynard ( 1937-2022) was a distinguished American printmaker and sculptor whose profound artistry intersects with those of African  American identity, history, and resilience. She spent her career exploring the complexities of the African Diaspora, creating works that resonate with  both personal and collective narratives. Maynard’s work often delves into social issues, powerfully addressing topics such as racial injustice, displacement, and heritage. Through her prints, she captures the struggle and strength inherent in the African American experience, employing a visual language that bends realism with abstraction. Maynard’s sculptures are equally compelling. They are often crafted from materials like wood and stone and embody a tactile sensibility that invites viewers to engage emotionally and intellectually. Her pieces are characterized by their organic forms and symbolic gestures, reflecting themes of survival and continuity. Valerie J. Maynard’s legacy is firmly rooted in her ability to transform personal and cultural narratives into powerful works of art.    

A year after the Hammonds House Museum opened with its first Executive Director, Ed Spriggs,  the ‘Ancestral Gate’ was specifically designed for the entrance to  the museum in 1989. Her design was fabricated posthumously by her friend and fellow artist Michael Anthony Brown with the support of the Lawrence M. Hilton Foundation. (HT)