the collector's folio

Bill Traylor Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Bill Traylor our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Bill Traylor · 1854 – 1949

Untitled (Dog Fight with Writing)

1940 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

Bill Traylor’s ‘Untitled (Dog Fight)’ – a raw, expressive drawing from 1940. Explore this folk art masterpiece featuring bold lines & symbolic conflict. Discover Traylor's unique vision!

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (Mule)

1939 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

A striking 1939 pencil and watercolor depiction of a mule by self-taught master Bill Traylor captures the essence of Alabama folklore, inviting you to explore this powerful piece of American modern art history.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17731 × 33 cm Commission this artwork

Mean Dog (On reverse: Man Leading Mule)

1942 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

A striking black figure set against a bold red background defines this powerful 1942 work by self-taught master Bill Traylor, inviting you to explore the raw emotion of his unique Southern folk art legacy.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Black Turkey

1942 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

Bill Traylor’s ‘Black Turkey’ (1942) is a striking pen & ink drawing of a solitary bird – a powerful example of his unique, evocative style. Explore this iconic piece!

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Yellow Chicken

1940 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

Bill Traylor’s ‘Yellow Chicken’ (1940) – a striking gouache drawing showcasing abstract expressionism & folklore. Explore this unique piece's bold style and symbolic depth.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17724 × 41 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Man Carrying Dog on Object]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17724 × 42 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Black Elephant with a Brown Ear]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17742 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Man and Woman]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (Woman with Umbrella and Man on Crutch)

1942 · original 44 x 29 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$18529 × 44 cm Commission at original size

Untitled [Cat]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17731 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Man with Pipe]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17724 × 42 cm Commission this artwork

Man in Black and Blue with Cigar and Suitcase

1942 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (Dog Fight with Writing)

1942 · original 53 x 56 cm

A dynamic depiction of two dogs locked in a fierce fight by self-taught master Bill Traylor captures the raw energy of 1942 folk art, inviting you to explore this powerful piece through a handmade oil reproduction.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$23556 × 53 cm Commission at original size

Untitled [Hen]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17725 × 40 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Blue and Brown Buildings]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17742 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Figure on Construction with Legs]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Smoking Man with Figure Construction]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Bill Traylor’s "Untitled \[Smoking Man\]" – a surreal, unsettling drawing of figures & animals. Explore this expressionist piece featuring bold lines and symbolic themes.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17725 × 40 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Woman Walking with Handbag]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Exciting Event with Animals]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Discover "Untitled [Exciting Event with Animals]" by Bill Traylor – a captivating drawing of animals & figures. Explore this unique folk art masterpiece's vibrant energy and historical significance.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17722 × 46 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Horse]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17734 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (Yellow and Blue House with Figures and Dog)

1939 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (Red Goat with Snake)

1942 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (Seated Woman)

1942 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17724 × 42 cm Commission this artwork

Red Man

1942 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Turkey with Bug]

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 69 artworks by Bill Traylor
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17731 × 33 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Bill Traylor

1854 – 1949

Quick facts

Top-ranked workUntitled (Dog Fight with Writing)
Topics exploredwomen, men, colour
Corpus themessocial commentary subtle, folk art traditions
Room fitcoffee shop
Movementsart brut
Color intensitybalanced, vivid
Works on APS69
Typical colorsrosy brown

Biography

The Voice of Alabama Folklore

William “Bill” Traylor remains one of the most profound enigmas in the annals of American art history—a self-taught African American visionary whose striking drawings emerged from the quiet obscurity of rural Alabama during the Great Depression. His work, characterized by a hauntingly beautiful simplicity, serves as a window into a world shaped by the complexities of the Jim Crow South. While early critics often dismissed his compositions as mere “primitive” or “outsider” sketches, modern scholarship has undergone a dramatic reassessment, recognizing Traylor as a master of modernism whose rhythmic lines and symbolic figures command a place within the global canon of fine art. This rediscovery was catalyzed by the tireless efforts of Charles Shannon, who encountered Traylor’s captivating vision in 1940, effectively bringing his singular perspective to the attention of a wider, more appreciative audience.

Born into the harsh realities of slavery on the plantation of George Hartful Traylor, Bill’s early life was defined by the profound social upheavals of the nineteenth century. His parents, Sally and Bill Calloway, navigated the immense hardships inherent in the post-emancipation era, instilling in him a sense of resilience that would later permeate his creative output. Despite the systemic discrimination and economic struggles of the sharecropping system in Alabama, Traylor built a life of remarkable familial devotion, fathering approximately twenty children. His journey from the bondage of slavery through the reconstruction era to the twilight of his life in Montgomery is a testament to human endurance, a narrative arc that provides a heavy, soulful backdrop to the imagery he would eventually commit to paper.

A Visual Language of Resilience and Motion

Traylor’s artistic career began unexpectedly late in his life, following his relocation to Montgomery in 1939. Driven by a sudden impulse to create, he utilized whatever materials were at hand—often pencil, crayon, or ink on discarded paper—to capture the essence of his surroundings. His work is not merely a collection of figures; it is a dynamic lexicon of movement and memory. In pieces such as Untitled (Dog Fight with Writing), one can witness the raw energy and kinetic tension of two dogs locked in combat, a composition that captures the visceral intensity of folk life through sharp, decisive strokes. His ability to distill complex emotions into minimalist forms allows his subjects—ranging from livestock like pigs to human figures engaged in daily toil or sudden violence—to vibrate with an almost supernatural life.

The symbolism within Traylor’s repertoire is both subtle and profound, often blending the mundane with the mythic. His depictions of animals and people frequently inhabit a space that feels simultaneously grounded in the reality of Alabama folklore and elevated by a dreamlike abstraction. This unique stylistic approach allows him to explore themes of:

The rhythms of rural life: Capturing the steady, often grueling pace of agricultural existence.
Social tension: Using fragmented figures to mirror the fractured social landscape of the segregated South.
Narrative movement: Utilizing a sense of "floating" or disconnected limbs to suggest action and transformation.

Legacy and Historical Significance

The historical significance of Bill Traylor cannot be overstated. He stands as a bridge between the oral traditions of the African American experience and the formal language of modern art. His work does not merely document history; it interprets the psychological landscape of an era marked by both extreme oppression and incredible creative survival. By transforming the scraps of everyday life into permanent artifacts of beauty, Traylor challenged the boundaries of what constitutes "fine art" and forced the art world to look toward the margins for true innovation.

Today, his legacy continues to resonate through museums and galleries worldwide, serving as a cornerstone for the study of self-taught artists. His ability to communicate the universal through the deeply personal ensures that his vision remains as vital and provocative today as it was when he first began drawing in the streets of Montgomery. Through his pencil and paper, Traylor achieved a form of immortality, ensuring that the voices of the Alabama landscape would never be silenced.

Questions & Answers

Which artworks by Bill Traylor are the most viewed?

A Stats page exists for Bill Traylor, presenting statistics about the artist's artworks on this website.

How is Bill Traylor's career divided into periods?

The Chronicle of Bill Traylor is a scroll-driven timeline that presents the artist's works in chronological order, grouped into career-period chapters.

Where is Bill Traylor from?

Bill Traylor was born in United States.

By the WikiOO.org Editorial Team Updated Sept. 21, 2026

Collector's quiz

In which city did Bill Traylor begin his artistic career after relocating there in 1939?
Who was the artist that encountered Traylor's work in 1940 and helped bring him to a wider audience?
What materials did Bill Traylor often use for his drawings?
Before moving to Montgomery, what was Bill Traylor's primary occupation for much of his life?
Approximately how many children did Bill Traylor father during his lifetime?

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

Commission your Bill Traylor

Every artwork by Bill Traylor in our catalog can be painted to order, in the size that suits the room.

All artworks by Bill Traylor