Fragile Genius Museum Exhibit

At first glance the lives and works of Catherine Wiley and Beauford Delaney may appear incongruent. A closer examination of each reveal two artistic journeys with shockingly similar goals, aspirations and challenges. The dichotomy of the lives and brilliance of Catherine Wiley and Beauford Delaney is a fascinating riddle to the art historian. The two shared geographical origins and an early mentor in Lloyd Branson. Their respective journeys toward success showed rather a number of parallels but above all it was their brilliant artistic journeys challenged by mental illness that bonded the two with both dying in mental institutions.

Today the work and legacy of both Wiley and Delaney have enjoyed renewed interest. Above all it is hoped this exhibition will bring forth a narrative that imbues each subject with dignity and respect while reinforcing their most innate artistic brilliance. With the passing of time records previously inaccessible to earlier scholars have now entered the public domain. The scholarship resulting from this exhibition seeks to shed an objective true light on a number of topics previously ignored or unseen as they relate to the life and work of Catherine Wiley and Beauford Delaney.