Who Is Thorton Dial Sr.?

                



                                             

Thornton Dial Sr., also known as Buck Dial was born in 1928 in Emelle Alabama. He is a self taught artist who did not start making art full time, until his retirement. He grew up in poverty and he and his siblings created toys from discarded objects found in yards in his neighborhood. He creates sculptures and paintings and drawings. He has deep convictions concerning racial, religious,political, and social values which are expressed brilliantly in his work. When asked how he became an artist, he said I do not have a real job, so made a job making art. One quote I love from buck is "Art is strange-looking stuff and most people do not understand art. If everybody understands one another, wouldn't nobody make art."