Davis, Stuart (1894-1964), was an American painter and illustrator. His bright, lively paintings deal with everyday life. Davis tried to combine a modern abstract style with American scenes and objects. Bold areas of intense, pure color and rugged written lines mark his work. He often included words from street signs and billboards. Davis was inspired by jazz, motion pictures, gas stations, storefronts, and mass-produced objects.
Davis was born in Philadelphia on Dec. 7, 1894. At 19, he exhibited in the Armory Show of 1913. The works of Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and Henri Matisse impressed him at this exhibition. His mature style also shows the influence of such Cubist painters as Fernand Leger and Pablo Picasso. Davis did murals for Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center in New York City. He died on June 24, 1964.
