Moses and the Burning Bush, 1980

From a young age, carving and barbering were deeply important to Elijah Pierce. After moving to Columbus, Ohio in 1923, he opened his own barbershop, which quickly became a gathering place for the community and where he worked on and displayed the colorful painted carvings he created in his spare time. Depicting biblical scenes, political and popular culture figures, and whimsical animals in detailed painted reliefs and freestanding sculptures, Pierce’s art reflected his culture and values. The artist took pride in his work and ownership of his success, noting, “Your life is a book and every day is a page, you’re writing your fate as you go along.” For Pierce, wood was his page and a pocket knife his quill, tools through which he left an enduring legacy.