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Skip Navigation LinksHome > Artists by last name > Sims, Bernice

Bernice Sims (1926)

Born in 1926 in Georgiana, Alabama. Bernice started painting after a visit to Mose Tolliver's house in 1984. Since then,  Bernice has become known for her brightly colored acrylic paintings and the important stories they tell. She worked in oil early on, but discovered that the oil based paints made her ill. Unlike other outsider artists who work with found materials, Bernice works almost exclusively with acrylics on canvas. She does, on occasion use artist board. Her style closely resembles that of Clementine Hunter. Like Clementine, she is a memory painter and uses paint straight from the tube without mixing colors. 

Churches are a backdrop in many of her works, baptisms, weddings, Easter egg hunts and Sunday school picnics are favorite themes. She also depicts the daily routine of southern life such as spring cleaning, fishing, hog killings, syrup making, and cotton picking.

But work is not her only theme, she often portrays playgrounds and scenes of children often show up in her work. Bernice was inducted into the Black Heritage Hall of Fame in 1994 for her contributions to Black Culture. She is also an artist-in-residence at the New Orleans Museum of Art, a distinction she shares with Jimmie Lee Sudduth and Mose Tolliver.

Bernice has always been active in Alabama Politics. She has fought for African Americans at the polls in Alabama during the most difficult of times. She recalls times when she was turned away from the polls because she was black, given ridiculously long and difficult forms to fill out before she could vote, forced to pay a poll tax, and she was even chased by the Klu Klux Klan on more than one occasion.

She still continues to work the polls on election days, but may not continue  very much longer as she has difficulty getting around. She uses an electric wheelchair and she has a van equipped with a wheelchair lift, but it is increasingly taxing on Bernice to sit at the polls from 7am to 7pm.

Please click on the piece name or image to see a larger detailed image as well as dimensions and pricing.
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Old Folks Home $500.00
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Home for the Holidays $650.00
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Sweet Potato Harvest $650.00
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Turpentine Harvest $650.00
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