KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Beauford Delaney and Catherine Wiley are both East Tennessee natives who left a deep mark on the art world.
"To have paintings by two of East Tennessee's most important artists on the national art scene is just a real thrill for us," said Sarah Drury, VP of Fine and Decorative Arts.
At the sale, Delaney's portrait of an unknown man sold for $8,000.
Meanwhile, Wiley's painting of a woman and her umbrella set a new auction house record when it sold for $120,000.
"I love the fact that she really brought honor and dignity and portrayed the beauty of the every day in her paintings," said Drury. "(She) helped people understand what it was like to be a woman living during that time period."
Delaney was raised in Knoxville before relocating to New York and Paris to reach more opportunities
"I think Lloyd Branson recognized the fact that for a black man living in Knoxville during that time, he might not get all of the opportunities that other artists might have," said Drury. "So encouraging him to go to New York and then on to Paris was probably the right thing to do at the time."
Both artists left their mark on the art world.
"Women who are studying art at the University of Tennessee today have a lot of gratitude that they should pay to Katherine Wiley because she helped establish art education at the school," said Drury.
The two artists later received the recognition they deserved.
"He was very creative and very underrepresented during his life, unfortunately, and didn't achieve the level of fame that he has now while he was still living," said Stephanie Case, Co-owner of Case Auctions.
Delaney and Wiley both set the stage for future Tennessee artists
"I think knowing the history of art here should be inspiring for people who may think, 'Well, can I do this? Do I have a chance?,'" said Case.
"Right now in the art world, it's all about telling the untold story," said Drury. "Going back and appreciating some of the artists that maybe didn't get their proper appreciation at the time."