Ghana, Africa Outsider/Naive/Folk Art Painted Barbershop Sign by Humble Boy, Vintage. I’ve done a lot of research on this piece, and yet I can’t really tell you definitively all that much about it. I think it’s from the 1990s–it could absolutely be earlier. I think it’s by an artist who identifies himself as Humbleboy in Ghana, in Africa (an educated guess). The barbershop sign is a style that is a thing from the 20th Century in West Africa. There are many other examples of it on the internet. Apparently he uses found “canvasses”. In this case, he found an old schoolroom chalkboard and did not even erase the multiplication tables, but used the reverse to paint on. It is this feature that really identifies it as Folk Art. But it’s just a board painted black, so I don’t know if that counts as a “real blackboard”. And, there is possibility that this artist may be a trained artist. And if he is/was, then he wouldn’t really qualify as a Naive or Outsider artist, because by definition a Outsider Art is by a completely untrained artist. I do think it just a fabulous piece. It comes from the collection of my late friend who collected decorative and tribal masks from various countries, vintage postcards and Naive Art. It measure 18″ x 23″. Please look at all the photos and read everything I’ve written about the condition and description of this item. It’ll come to you from a smoke-free, pet-free house. Thanks for the consideration.
