The Gallery of Everything presents the life and art of Sam Doyle (1906 - 1985), curated from the collection of Bob Roth.
Born into the Gullah community of St Helena Island, South Carolina, Doyle was a self-schooled art-maker, whose graphic paintings, sculptures and assemblies, on roofing tin and wood, established him as a dynamic cultural presence.
Doyle used his gifts to celebrate the history of Black emancipation and Black icons of politics, culture and sport. These sat alongside vivid portraits of friends, neighbours, local eccentrics and healers, with own witty captions.
Doyle’s front yard, the self-titled St Helena Outdoor Art Gallery, was layered with such objects. They caught the eye of collectors, gallerists and curators alike, and led to Doyle’s inclusion in Black Folk Art in America: 1930 - 1980 (1982).
Today Doyle is regarded as a central figure in 20th century African American art. A direct influence on the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, Doyle’s artworks are held in major institutional collections: LACMA (Los Angeles); PMA (Philadelphia); MFA (Houston); High Museum (Atlanta); Smithsonian (Washington DC); and American Folk Art Museum (NY).
At the Outsider Art Fair 2026, The Gallery of Everything has assembled an exclusive selection of Doyle’s most beloved images, including Dr Bus Ha.Lo - the front cover of the seminal publication by Edit DeAk and Louanne LaRoche (Art Random, 1980).
For further information, please contact the gallery at ge@gallevery.com.