Joseph Elmer Yoakum

June 20 – July 26, 2019

Installation Views Thumbnails Back

Installation view of Joseph Elmer Yoakum, Venus Over Manhattan, New York, 2019

Press Release

Joseph Elmer Yoakum - - Exhibitions - Venus Over Manhattan

Joseph Elmer Yoakum with “Mississippi River Neir Noth Side," c. late 1960s. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Whitney B. Halstead papers

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
June 20 – July 26, 2019
Opening: Thursday, June 20th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Venus Over Manhattan
980 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10075

(New York, NY) – Venus Over Manhattan is pleased to present Joseph Elmer Yoakum, an exhibition comprising more than sixty works on paper by the visionary American artist. On the tails of his inclusion in Lynne Cooke’s “Outliers and American Vanguard Art,” the presentation marks the largest group of Yoakum’s work assembled in New York since 1972, when the Whitney Museum of American Art staged a solo exhibition dedicated to his work. In conjunction with the presentation, the gallery will publish a major catalogue featuring a new text on the artist, archival material, and contributions from the Art Institute of Chicago, the Roger Brown Study Collection at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, The Museum of Everything, Jeff Koons, and KAWS. The exhibition will be on view from June 20th through July 26th, 2019.

St Louis & Sanfrancisco Rail Road between Thayer Missouri & Jonesboro Arkansas, n.d.

An artist of African American and Native American descent, Joseph Elmer Yoakum made drawings that describe a life spent traveling, first with the circus as a young man, then with the army during World War I, and later, alone hopping train cars in the American West – all before settling in Chicago, where he committed to a life of art making around 1962. A set of competing narratives seeks to account for the details of his life: per official documentation, Joseph Elmer Yoakum was born to John Yokum (a previous spelling of the family name) and Frances Wadlow on February 20th, 1890, in Ash Grove, Missouri. But according to Yoakum, he was born in 1888, “near the village of Window Rock, Arizona, in the Southwest territory before it were [sic] made the Navajo and Apache Indian reservation.” He often claimed Navajo heritage, referring to himself as “Na-va-JOE,” but his Native American heritage can rather be traced to the Cherokee Nation, through both of his parents. Many aspects of his biography remains similarly uncertain – such as his time spent traveling with the Ringling Brothers Circus, or his role as a billposter for Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show – and contribute to a picture of his life that rests between myth and fact.

The Everglades in So. Florida near town Redland, 1964

Yoakum first settled in Chicago in the late 1920s, where he spent some thirty years working as a mechanic, carpenter, and railroad inspector, before dedicating his life to his art around 1962, at the age of 72. Yoakum relocated to a storefront on Chicago’s South Side in 1966, where he began the most productive period of his career. It was during this time that Yoakum developed his mature style: characterized by a densely patterned and radically flattened approach, Yoakum’s drawings often feature brightly colored geographies, gently moving streams, and complex layers of receding trees. Yoakum claimed to have traveled to each of the locations he drew – locations often denoted by a specific title in the top left quadrant of the page, much like a picture postcard – and that he pulled his compositions from memory. Though many expressed doubts about the truth of his claims, one of the artist’s biographers, Derrel B. DePasse, found that Yoakum had indeed visited may of the places his drawings depict.

Trinity and Brazus Valley near Elpaso Texas, 1964

John Hopgood, an instructor at Chicago State College, happened upon Yoakum’s studio in 1967, and immediately recognized the quality of his work. Hopgood organized Yoakum’s first show at The Whole, a coffee shop in the basement of St. Bartholomew’s Church of Englewood, and secured him representation with the Edward Sherbeyn Gallery, which staged a second exhibition of his work in 1968. This exhibition caught the attention of Whitney Halstead, a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, who became Yoakum’s greatest champion. Halstead’s students at the time were a group of artists who came to be known as the Chicago Imagists, and included Roger Brown, Gladys Nilsson, Jim Nutt, Ed Paschke, and Christina Ramberg, many of whom championed, collected, and drew inspiration from Yoakum’s work. Indeed, as Roger Brown described, finding Yoakum “was like finding [Henri] Rousseau in our own backyard." Yoakum’s success ballooned from there, culminating in a major solo presentation at the Whitney Museum of American Art, curated by Marcia Tucker, which opened just a month before Yoakum died.

Mound Valley, Kansas, n.d.

ABOUT JOSEPH ELMER YOAKUM

Joseph Elmer Yoakum was, according to official record, born in Ash Grove, Missouri, in 1890. His work has been the subject of numerous solo presentations, including exhibitions at the David and Alfred Smart Museum of the University of Chicago; Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, Chicago; the Art Institute of Chicago; and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. Yoakum’s work is frequently featured in major group exhibitions, including recent presentations at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia. His work is held many public collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago; The Menil Collection, Houston; and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Joseph Elmer Yoakum lived and worked in Chicago until his death in 1972.

For further information about the exhibition and availability, please contact the gallery at info@venusovermanhattan.com

For all press inquiries related to the exhibition, please email press@venusovermanhattan.com

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Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon Portugal, c. 1960s
Color pencil, ballpoint pen on paper
12 x 19 in
30.5 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA017)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Castle Mountains, New York, c. 1960s
Watercolor, ballpoint pen, pencil on acid free paper
9 x 12 in
22.9 x 30.5 cm
(JYOA069)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
The First Steam Engine to be assigned to the service of the Kansas City, Ft. Scott + Memphis Run between Kansas City + springfield, missouri on the st Louis + sanfrancisco Rail Road pulling the Kansas City + Florida Special from Kans City to Jacksonville Fla in year of 1901, c. 1960s
Graphite, color pencil, ballpoint pen on paper
12 x 19 in
30.5 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA016)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
West Coast Range Alberta B.C. Canada, c. 1960s
Watercolor, ballpoint pen, pencil on acid free paper
9 x 12 in
22.9 x 30.5 cm
(JYOA070)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Great Dividing Range of Queensland sector near Brisbane, Australia, 1963
Ballpoint pen on paper
12 x 18 in
30.5 x 45.7 cm
(JYOA043)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Foot of Mountain Range Near Madrid Spain, c. 1963-1964
Watercolor, ballpoint pen on brown Kraft paper, shellacked
19 x 12 in
48.3 x 30.5 cm
(JYOA018)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Lime Stone Query of Ash Grove Lime & Portland Cement Company Ash Grove, 1963/1965
Blue ballpoint pens and graphite, with watercolor on tan wove paper
12 x 18 3/4 in
30.5 x 47.6 cm
(JYOA032)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
The Outlet in English Channel near Southampton Eng to Lehauerve France; This ship is the Lusatainia Conveyince Service, c. 1963/1967
Blue and black ballpoint pens, color pencils and chalk with smudging, on tan wove paper
19 x 24 in
48.3 x 61 cm
(JYOA035)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Deming, New Mexico at Foot of Florida Mtn Range near town of Deming, 1964
Color pencils, watercolor, ballpoint pen on paper
12 x 18 in
30.5 x 45.7 cm
(JYOA047)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Fertil Mounds Near Wyanoka Oklahoma, 1964
Ink and graphite on paper
12 x 17 3/4 in
30.5 x 45.1 cm
(JYOA045)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mississippi River neir north side of Hanibal Missouri, 1964
Blue and black ballpoint pens, colored pencils and chalk with smudging, on tan wove paper
12 x 18 in
30.5 x 45.7 cm
(JYOA031)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
The Everglades in So. Florida near town Redland, 1964
Color pencil, graphite, and ink on paper
12 x 17 3/4 in
30.5 x 45.1 cm
(JYOA044)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
The Home of Jesse James Near Bonner, 1964
Color pencil on paper
12 x 17 7/8 in
30.5 x 45.4 cm
(JYOA002)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Trinity and Brazus Valley near Elpaso Texas, 1964
Blue ballpoint pens and graphite, with watercolor on tan wove paper
12 x 17 1/2 in
30.5 x 44.5 cm
(JYOA036)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Imperial Valley, 1965
Ink, color pencil on paper
12 x 18 in
30.5 x 45.7 cm
(JYOA004)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Lake Ponchatrain Near New Orleans Lousiana, 1965
Color pencil, watercolor, ballpoint pen on brown kraft paper
12 x 18 in
30.5 x 45.7 cm
(JYOA003)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Altai Mtns. Mongolia Asia, c. 1965
Pencil on paper
11 7/8 x 17 7/8 in
30.2 x 45.4 cm
(JYOA019)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Holly Hills of Jerselam Judea/Now, Palestine, c. 1965
Watercolor, ballpoint pen and ink on paper
18 x 24 in
45.7 x 61 cm
(JYOA020)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Moro Rock and Moro Bay Near San-Luis Obispo California by Joseph E. Yoakum, c. 1965
Pen, color pencil on paper
19 x 24 in
48.3 x 61 cm
(JYOA062)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Gum Pine Tree on Amazon, 1967
Color pencil, pen on paper
12 x 18 in
30.5 x 45.7 cm
(JYOA005)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt Look Out in Toppenish Range near Vancouver Washington, 1968
Color pencil, ballpoint pen on paper
11 7/8 x 19 in
30.2 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA006)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt. Brenda Brenda in Great Dividing Range, c. 1968
Pen, watercolor on paper
12 x 18 in
30.5 x 45.7 cm
(JYOA064)
Collection of Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, gift of Susann Craig, 2002.6.

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt. Cook of Southern Alps in South of New Zeland town as Church of Christ, c. 1968
Color pencil, ballpoint pen on paper
12 x 18 1/4 in
30.5 x 46.4 cm
(JYOA021)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt Bendeleoew in White Mtn Range Near Taylor Peninsular Alaska, 1969
Ink and color pencil on paper
12 x 19 in
30.5 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA109)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt Horseback in Rockey Knob Range near Chillicothe Ohio, 1969
Blue ballpoint pens and colored chalk with smudging on ivory wove paper
12 x 17 in
30.5 x 43.2 cm
(JYOA008)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt. Raft River near Great Salt Lake near Village Grouse Creek, Utah, 1969
Color pencil, ballpoint pen, graphite on paper
12 x 18 3/4 in
30.5 x 47.6 cm
(JYOA071)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
The First Zepolin to compleet the first non stop flight Between New York City + Parris France, 1969
Color pencil, ballpoint pen on paper
12 x 19 in
30.5 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA007)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
King Leopold Range, Argyle Downs, Australia, c. 1969
Color pencil on paper
11 7/8 x 17 3/4 in
30.2 x 45.1 cm
(JYOA022)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
In Black Mountain Range Near Montgomery Alabama South U.S.A., 1970
Ballpoint pen, color pencil on paper
12 1/4 x 19 in
31.1 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA013)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Lake of the Ozarks, 1970
Color pencil, ballpoint pen on paper
11 1/2 x 19 in
29.2 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA011)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Looking to the West from..., 1970
Watercolor, pencil, pen on paper
12 x 19 in
30.5 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA012)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt [title faded], 1970
Ballpoint pen, color pencil on paper
19 x 12 in
48.3 x 30.5 cm
(JYOA009)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt. Kanchen in Himilaya mtn Range near Lhasa China East asia, 1970
Pen, color pencil on paper
19 x 11 3/4 in
48.3 x 29.8 cm
(JYOA010)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
The only woman ruler of Assirea Asia Se., 1970
Graphite, color pencil on paper
19 x 12 in
48.3 x 30.5 cm
(JYOA014)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Altali Mtn Mongolia Asia, c. 1970
Color pencil, ballpoint pen, graphite on paper
11 3/4 x 15 1/2 in
29.8 x 39.4 cm
(JYOA073)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Dead Sea near Dhioan in Jordan So East Asia, c. 1970
Pen, color pencil on paper
12 x 19 in
30.5 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA038)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Little Fall in Spring River Near Thayer Missouri, c. 1970
Color pencil, ballpoint pen on paper
18 x 24 in
45.7 x 61 cm
(JYOA072)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt. Monte Rosa in Jura Alps, c. 1970
Pen, pastel, color pencil on paper
11 3/4 x 15 1/2 in
29.8 x 39.4 cm
(JYOA037)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt. Shasta 80 Miles West of Susanville In Circayou County California, c. 1970s
Pen, color pencil on paper
12 x 19 in
30.5 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA039)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt. Wilhelemina of Nassau Range Near Carstenez New Guinea asia [sic], c. 1970s
Color pencil, ballpoint pen, and ink on paper
18 x 24 in
45.7 x 61 cm
(JYOA023)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
A Long Continentle Divide, n.d.
Color pencil on paper
11 7/8 x 17 7/8 in
30.2 x 45.4 cm
(JYOA065)
Collection of Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, gift of Martha Grifin, 2014.5.3.

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
A Sinclair Oil Refinery, Santiago Cuba, n.d.
Graphite on paper
13 x 19 in
33 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA053)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Argyle Canyon, Utah, n.d.
Ballpoint pen on paper
8 x 10 in
20.3 x 25.4 cm
(JYOA060)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Chieff Gray Eagle Squaw wife Ogalla of Jicarilla Tribe Reservation north of Concord Newhampshire, n.d.
Graphite, color pencil on paper
12 x 19 in
30.5 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA030)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Clark Gable Sr. Movie Actor Hollywood California, n.d.
Graphite, ink on paper
19 x 13 in
48.3 x 33 cm
(JYOA049)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Clinch Mtns Near Nashville, Tennessee, n.d.
Ballpoint pen, color pencil, graphite on paper
12 x 18 3/4 in
30.5 x 47.6 cm
(JYOA068)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
English Channel at Le Havre France, n.d.
Color pencil, watercolor on paper
18 x 24 in
45.7 x 61 cm
(JYOA033)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Fergus Falls Minnesota, n.d.
Ballpoint pen on paper
11 1/2 x 17 1/2 in
29.2 x 44.5 cm
(JYOA057)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Grand Prarie Cherryale Kans, n.d.
Watercolor, graphite on paper
9 x 12 in
22.9 x 30.5 cm
(JYOA028)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mound Valley Chetopa Kans., n.d.
Graphite on paper
8 1/2 x 11 in
21.6 x 27.9 cm
(JYOA052)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mound Valley, Kansas, n.d.
Watercolor, ink, pencil on paper
8 1/4 x 11 in
21 x 28 cm
(JYOA026)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt Attalla in Red Mtn Range near attalla Alabama usa, n.d.
Color pencil, ballpoint pen on paper
11 7/8 x 18 7/8 in
30.2 x 47.9 cm
(JYOA078)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt Colio of Vericruz sec: near Town Ciowawa Mexico, n.d.
Pen, color pencil on paper
12 x 18 in
30.5 x 45.7 cm
(JYOA040)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt Issoire in Avergne Mtn Range near Clermont France, n.d.
Pen, pencil, color pencil on paper
12 x 18 in
30.5 x 45.7 cm
(JYOA042)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt Mckinley Highest Point in North America 20320 FE Near Town of Curry! Anchorage Seetor Alaska, USA, n.d.
Color pencil, ballpoint pen on paper
12 x 17 5/8 in
30.5 x 44.8 cm
(JYOA024)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt. Blanc. Graian Alps Near Chemoix France, n.d.
Ink on paper
11 3/4 x 17 3/4 in
29.8 x 45.1 cm
(JYOA056)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt. Cross Pate in Long Range, Mt. Range near Damals Harber New Foundland, n.d.
Color pencil, ballpoint pen on paper
11 3/4 x 17 3/4 in
29.9 x 45.1 cm
(JYOA027)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Mt. Snohetta Near Andalsnes, Norway, n.d.
Graphite on paper
12 x 17 1/2 in
30.5 x 44.5 cm
(JYOA055)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Near Shore of Le Huavre, France, n.d.
Watercolor, ink, pencil on paper
8 1/4 x 10 3/4 in
21 x 27.3 cm
(JYOA025)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
Sicapoo Mtns Luzon P.I. 7,743 ft, n.d.
Color pencil, watercolor, graphite on paper
9 x 12 in
22.9 x 30.5 cm
(JYOA029)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
St Louis & Sanfrancisco Rail Road between Thayer Missouri & Jonesboro Arkansas, n.d.
Blue ballpoint pens and chalk and colored pencils with smudging on ivory wove paper
12 x 18 3/4 in
30.5 x 47.6 cm
(JYOA034)

Joseph Elmer Yoakum
The Little Home that Money Can’t Buy, Bay Shore Acroes on Moro Bay San Luis Obispo Cal, n.d.
Ballpoint pen, color pencil on paper
12 x 19 in
30.5 x 48.3 cm
(JYOA063)