Ricky Ferguson beamed with delight when he saw his colorful paintings hanging on the navy walls of Cru Fine Wine and Rare Whiskey in downtown Greenwood.
“I am proud,” the 59-year-old artist said Monday during a visit to the liquor store.
Born and raised in Greenwood, where he continues to reside, Ferguson makes a living salvaging metal and other scrap material while also creating commissioned art pieces.
Many of his pieces, including those on display at Cru Fine Wine, depict musical icons such as Billie Holiday, Robert Johnson, Jonny Shines and B.B. King. They also feature scenery of the Mississippi Delta.
Ferguson’s work, the third art exhibit at Cru Fine Wine since it opened in August, has been on display since last week and will be available for sale at the store from 90 to 120 days depending on the popularity of the work, said Andy O’Bryan, one of the liquor store’s proprietors.
Because the art exhibits are on display during store hours, Cru Fine Wine does not charge any of the artists a commission fee, O’Bryan said.
O’Bryan, a fan of Ferguson’s work, had bought three pieces but had not met Ferguson in person until Monday.
Ferguson has created art for years but has not had much experience with art shows. “A lot of people tell me I couldn’t make it off my art, but they didn’t provide no backup,” Ferguson said.
He credited Yolande van Heerden, a fellow Greenwood artist, as well as O’Bryan with assisting him with his latest art show, the third in his career.
- Contact Gerard Edic at 581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com.
