By: Sterling Deebs

Born in Ocala, Florida 1962, and resident of Georgia for since ‘67, American Artist Andy Davis’ work has evolved out of humble yet distinctive beginnings, realized the earliest flowering of artistic achievement on the ceiling of his childhood bedroom. Using a filled “pop” gun with airplane glue and acrylic paints to create non-commissioned, unappreciated painting his parents titled: “My god son what have you done !?”

Davis has been recognized as one of few self-taught American artists to have the skills of an American Master. In 2001 after the unveiling of two sculptures the (Police Memorial and the September 11th United Indeed ) he was considered Atlanta’s newly discovered “missing link” in the visual arts.

‘Every once in a blue moon someone grabs your attention because their unearthly talents stops you in your tracks. These extraordinary talents simply defy all that we know about humanity…Andy Davis is one such person‘.

- A prestigious writer and literary publisher

As a self taught artist/sculptor of the Victorian style of leisure, and flowing movement , Andy Davis’ training never went any further than his own hands and his experiences of life as he observed people in their daily existence. He shares the belief as some that came before him, that his art should glorify the Ultimate Creator and one of His most spectacular creations…the beauty and grandeur of the human form. “I take comfort in knowing that I’m doing what I was born to do, to honor the craft of sculpture by producing the most beautiful and meaningful artwork I possibly can”.

Davis realized that he saw the world differently and more distinctively than many others in his sphere of influence. Andy knew that his life long expression- of his thoughts and feelings-would be through art.

In the mid to late 1980’s, Davis began sculpting scale models of classic cars, which soon caught the eyes of Automobile Art collectors in the southeastern part of the United States, and jumpstarting once again, his love for sculpture.

In the early 90’s, Davis started his own murals and graphics company, while working on his art projects part time. The artistic skills soon caught the attention of interior design and decorating companies throughout the southeast, and he began receiving commissions for private custom works of art. His artwork ranged from bronze busts, portraits in clay, bas-relief carved in tiles, to frescos in some of the area’s finest homes and businesses.

Local popularity took a leap in late 1998, when he worked with the American Red Cross, to create a sculpture of “Gone With The Wind author” Margaret Mitchell, to be donated for permanent display in the gallery of the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum in downtown Atlanta. The sculpture is entitled “Thinking About Tomorrow”.

Mary Rose Taylor, Executive Director of the museum quotes:

“ The unveiling of Davis’ sculpture was a marvelous and memorable event. It ranks up there with the Daimler/Benz press conference in Stuttgart, Germany and the museum’s dedication as the high points of this institution’s history.” Davis’ first public work of art, was unveiled that February to an audience of over 500 people and was covered by the local news media and broadcast state wide.

Since that time his art and projects have been featured on eleven television news programs, including two on 11Alive News “Wes-Side” Story by Wes Sarginson, and almost 60 newsprint stories, in the local media and the south east.

Shortly thereafter, Davis created a near life- size sculpture for the American Red Cross, which was inspired by a photograph taken in 1946, of a Polish boy orphaned by Nazi Germany, who was given a brand new pair of shoes by an American Red Cross, volunteer. The sculpture is entitled “New Leather Shoes”.

Inspired by another Pulitzer Prize photograph taken by LIFE photographer William “Bill” Beal in 1956, Andy Davis began raising funds to sculpt a life-size bronze representational sculpture to honor Georgia Police Officers killed in the line of duty, unveiled Spring of 2002. The step-by-step artistic creative process of this project has been continuously covered in the Atlanta Journal, Clayton County News Daily, and the Fayette Citizen and has aired three times on WXIA Channel 11 news with Wes Sargenson. “Wes Side Story’

Davis’ largest unveiling took place on September 11th 2002 outside the Woodruff building for the United Way to honor Georgia victims of the World Trade Center on September 11th 2001. The police and fire chiefs of Atlanta lit the eternal flame at it‘s center, as well as Mayor Shirley Franklin and other dignitaries were, to a crowd of over 5000 people. The event was covered live in metro Atlanta on three local news channels.

Other project recently completed and/or under production:

*62 Private Collection pieces in the region

*2 museum installations

*A heroic size sculpture for First Baptist Church Jonesboro.

* Cox Enterprises headquarter , (Owners of The Atlanta Journal/Constitution)

*bronze - sculpture for WSB TV and Radio,

*Bronze- for the Manheim Auto Auction

*Bronze- WHIO Radio in Ohio

*Life-size sculpture commissioned by Chick-fil-A installed at the WinShape Administration Building at Berry College in Rome, Georgia.

*Bronze Sculpture of Dale Earnhardt , presented to Dale Jr. at the Atlanta Motor Speed Way in 2002

*Sculpture for NASCAR drivers Richard and Kyle Petty at The Victory Junction Camp for Children in Randleman SC

* Bronze sculpture of Preston Tucker of the movie fame “TUCKER”

*Commissioned to create 50 Tucker 48’s from the TACA

*Life-size bronze sculpture of James “Radio” Kennedy from the movie RADIO installed 4/18/06

* Life-size Bronze of Chick-fil-A founder TRUETT CATHY unveiled at Truett’s Grille in Griffin 10/19/06

*Life-size sculpture of musical legend RAY CHARLES of Georgia. To be installed in Albany on Ray’s Birthday September 23, 2007

*Thirteen commissions to the National Museum of Patriotism, to include A life size sculpture of the The Iwa Jima Sculpture in Washington DC

*A larger than life bronze of General Lawrence Griffin, founding father of the City of Griffin, Georgia.