Margaret Burroughs

Burroughs, Charles Gordon Mrs.
Burroughs, Margaret G.
Burroughs, Margaret G.T. Dr.
Burroughs, Margaret T.
Burroughs, Margaret Taylor Goss
Burroughs, Margaret Taylor Goss Dr.
Goss, Bernard Mrs.
Goss, Margaret Taylor
Taylor, Victoria Margaret
American, 1915 - 2010

Explore selected works

This black-and-white print depicts two stylized, abstract faces, alongside geometric patterns and textures. The face on the left is in profile, their skin decorated with swirling lines and zig-zag patterns. They have short hair depicted with shaded, triangular shapes. The face on the right looks at us, with similar curved lines highlighting their facial features and decorating their forehead with an oval swirl. This person's hair is longer, appearing to fall past their shoulders in abstract, braided strands. At the bottom of the image is a third large shape that may be the back of the head of a person with short, spiky hair. The background is a tapestry of geometric shapes, including triangles and intersecting lines.
Margaret Burroughs, African Coiffures, 1983, linocut on wove paper, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 2023.51.1

African Coiffures

Margaret Burroughs · 1983 · linocut on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2023.51.1
This print depicts abstract figures and shapes created by curving and wavy lines, all seeming to swirl around a central woman. Her skin is black, and her dark, curly hair is in an updo on top of her head, adorned with a thin headband. She is nude except for a thin cloth around her upper thighs and a necklace around her neck, and she holds the reins of two creatures that look like large fish which are at the bottom of the print, appearing to pull a large shell behind her. Surrounding her appear to be several cherubic figures flying in the air and holding large palm leaves. Some of them also hold small bows knocked with arrows. In the water on the bottom right seems to be a man seen from the waist up, with a white beard, a bare chest, and a pointed crown. He is holding a tall staff in one arm and looking towards the central woman. The background behind the scene is black, with details in white showcasing low waves, drops of water, and dark clouds overhead.
Margaret Burroughs, Black Venus, c. 1957, linocut, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Florian Carr Fund and Gift of the Print Research Foundation, 2008.115.29

Black Venus

Margaret Burroughs · c. 1957 · linocut ·  Accession ID  2008.115.29
This is a drawing of a beach scene. The drawing features a group of figures on a beach using a black and white linocut print style. In the image, two figures are standing on the right, one holding a basket. On the center and left, two figures are sitting facing each other, with one reaching out their arms while the other is leaning back. The drawing includes patterns on the clothing and hair of the figures, contrasting against the textured background. Wavy lines in the sky and the balanced composition of figures at various positions create a dynamic depiction of a relaxed beach setting.
Margaret Burroughs, On the Beach, c. 1957, linocut, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of the Print Research Foundation, 2008.115.340

On the Beach

Margaret Burroughs · c. 1957 · linocut ·  Accession ID  2008.115.340
This print shows a person sitting down with their knees drawn up to their chest and their arms folded on their knees, their head resting on their arms. The person has short, curly hair, and they are wearing a jacket, pants, and shoes. Their face is mostly obscured by their arms and hands. Their skin and hair appear to be black, outlined with thin cream-colored lines. The background features a textured pattern resembling a brick wall. Below the print is a signature for "M. Burroughs" and the year 1953, with the words "Sleeping Boy" written on the left. A border of cream-colored paper surrounds the print.
Margaret Burroughs, Sleeping Boy, 1953, Linocut, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Florian Carr Fund and Gift of the Print Research Foundation, 2008.115.28

Sleeping Boy

Margaret Burroughs · 1953 · Linocut ·  Accession ID  2008.115.28
Geometric shapes and pieces of fruit in vivid yellow, red, midnight blue, cool green, and orange form a rough pyramid on a mottled brown surface or table in this vertical, abstracted still life painting. The objects and surrounding patterns are painted with visible, textured brushstrokes. The tallest shape is a crimson-red cylinder in the center. In front of and just to the right of the red cylinder is a corn-yellow cylinder topped with a semi-circle resembling a mushroom cap. Next is a red orb, perhaps an apple, sitting in a half-moon shaped, blue and black dish or cup with a yellow footed stem. Balancing out these descending forms are two half-circles that flare to our left from behind the cylinders. The upper disk has a yellow fish-scale pattern against teal blue, and the other lightens from lime green at the center to lemon yellow at the perimeter. Four pieces of fruit are in front of the pyramid. From left to right are a half an oval melon with a dark blue skin and pink flesh, a cluster of acid-green grapes, a pear painted in cobalt blue and bright yellow, and an orange piece of fruit. Slices of pattern cut diagonally across the background and overlap. At the front, turquoise flowers with yellow centers are arranged against coral pink and black lines. Other slices have stripes, polka dots, or more flowers in tones of bright yellow, cranberry red, carnation pink, and sky blue. A vertical band up the right edge of the composition has pale blue dots against celestial blue.
Margaret Burroughs, Still Life, 1943, oil on compressed particle board, Corcoran Collection (The Evans-Tibbs Collection, Gift of Thurlow Evans Tibbs, Jr.), 2015.19.206

Still Life

Margaret Burroughs · 1943 · oil on compressed particle board ·  Accession ID  2015.19.206

You may also like

Article:  16 Black Artists to Know