b. 1887 d. 1988
Site Affiliation: Melrose on the Cane (Melrose Plantation)
Clementine began as a field hand at Melrose when she was twelve years old. Originally born at Hidden Hill Plantation in 1887, her family moved to Melrose as sharecroppers for the Henry family. Later she became a housekeeper, but it was while she was a cook that she found some discarded paints left behind by an artist at Melrose. Those discarded paints changed her life. Clementine Hunter’s paintings continue to touch those who view and admire her work each day.
Clementine was a self-taught, primitive artist. Her unique African-American perspective, considered “insider art,” tells stories that historians overlooked while documenting plantation life. Clementine captured the community of workers, the life of the “gears” that make plantations successful and prosperous.
In 1955, at the age of 68, Hunter completed her most famous work, the African House Murals. They were painted with oil on plywood and installed on the second floor of the African House at Melrose Plantation.
Primary Medium: Painting
Primary Stylistic Term: Folk Art
Fun Fact: A fascinating and lesser-known fact about Clementine Hunter is that she began her artistic career later in life. Born in 1887, Hunter started creating art in her 50s. Despite having no formal training, her paintings vividly captured the daily life, traditions, and scenes of Melrose Plantation where she had worked most of her life. Hunter’s unique perspective and distinctive style have made her an iconic figure in American folk art, and her work has been exhibited in museums across the country, leaving an enduring impact on the art world. In 1956, Hunter also wrote the Melrose Plantation Cook, with Francis Mignon, which includes her own recipes.
Recommended Publications: The Best Things to Do in Natchitoches, Louisiana (Southern Living, 2024); In Conversation with Tommy Whitehead about Clementine Hunter (2020)