William Christenberry

(American, 1936–2016)

William Christenberry was an American artist, recognized for his haunting color photographs of landscapes, signs, and abandoned structures in rural Alabama. Chistenberry’s small photographs made with a Kodak Brownie camera initially served as color references for his expressionist paintings, but took on a primary role in his creative output as the artist discovered the work of photographers like Walker Evans, and later William Eggleston. Born on November 5, 1936 in Tuscaloosa, AL, Christenberry studied painting at the University of Alabama where he received both his BFA and MA. The artist continued making paintings and sculptures throughout his life and taught painting and drawing at the Corcoran School of Arts in Washington D.C. for many decades. On his relationship to the rural South, he has said, “My stance is very subjective…, the place is so much a part of me. I can’t escape it and have no desire to escape it. I continue to come to grips with it… It’s a love affair—a lifetime of involvement with a place.” Christenberry died on November 28, 2016 in Washington, D.C. His works are in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., and the Kemper Museum in Kansas City.

Related Categories

Impressionist and Modern Art, Photography

Related Artists

William Eggleston, Walker Evans, Richard Misrach, Joel Sternfeld, Alfred Stieglitz

William Christenberry Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

William Christenberry (330 results)
The Bar-B-Q Inn (1981), Bar-B-Q Inn in..., 1985–1991

William Christenberry

The Bar-B-Q Inn (1981), Bar-B-Q Inn in..., 1985–1991

Sale Date: March 1, 2019

Auction Closed

[Alabama, Garage with Coca-Cola Signs, 1970–1979

William Christenberry

[Alabama, Garage with Coca-Cola Signs, 1970–1979

Sale Date: December 13, 2018

Auction Closed

Palmist Building (Winter), Havana Junction,..., 1981

William Christenberry

Palmist Building (Winter), Havana Junction,..., 1981

Sale Date: December 5, 2018

Auction Closed

Palmist Building, Havana Junction, Alabama, 1980

William Christenberry

Palmist Building, Havana Junction, Alabama, 1980

Sale Date: December 5, 2018

Auction Closed

WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY: 15 ALABAMA..., 1964–1972

William Christenberry

WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY: 15 ALABAMA..., 1964–1972

Sale Date: October 3, 2018

Auction Closed

METAMORPHOSIS (suite of 4), 1984

William Christenberry

METAMORPHOSIS (suite of 4), 1984

Sale Date: October 3, 2018

Auction Closed

The Bar-B-Q Inn (1981), Bar-B-Q Inn in the Rain...

William Christenberry

The Bar-B-Q Inn (1981), Bar-B-Q Inn in the Rain...

Sale Date: September 14, 2018

Auction Closed

House, Pickinsville Alabama, 1975

William Christenberry

House, Pickinsville Alabama, 1975

Sale Date: September 14, 2018

Auction Closed

Red Building in Forest, Hale County, Alabama, 1991

William Christenberry

Red Building in Forest, Hale County, Alabama, 1991

Sale Date: June 5, 2018

Auction Closed

Palmist Building (Winter), Havana Junction,..., 1981

William Christenberry

Palmist Building (Winter), Havana Junction,..., 1981

Sale Date: June 1, 2018

Auction Closed

Palmist Building, Havana Junction, Alabama, 1980

William Christenberry

Palmist Building, Havana Junction, Alabama, 1980

Sale Date: June 1, 2018

Auction Closed

Methodist Church, Havana, Alabama, 1976

William Christenberry

Methodist Church, Havana, Alabama, 1976

Sale Date: June 1, 2018

Auction Closed

Colburn Grocery, Uniontown, Alabama, 1977

William Christenberry

Colburn Grocery, Uniontown, Alabama, 1977

Sale Date: May 11, 2018

Auction Closed

Abandoned House, near Montgomery, Alabama, 1971

William Christenberry

Abandoned House, near Montgomery, Alabama, 1971

Sale Date: December 15, 2017

Auction Closed

Church, between Greensboro and Marion, Alabama, 1973

William Christenberry

Church, between Greensboro and Marion, Alabama, 1973

Sale Date: December 15, 2017

Auction Closed

Church, near Marion, Alabama, 1976

William Christenberry

Church, near Marion, Alabama, 1976

Sale Date: December 15, 2017

Auction Closed

Warehouse Wall and Store, Newbern, Alabama, 1990

William Christenberry

Warehouse Wall and Store, Newbern, Alabama, 1990

Sale Date: December 15, 2017

Auction Closed

House in Summertime, Greensboro, Alabama, 1972

William Christenberry

House in Summertime, Greensboro, Alabama, 1972

Sale Date: December 15, 2017

Auction Closed

Rebel Gasoline Station, Moundville, Alabama, 1964

William Christenberry

Rebel Gasoline Station, Moundville, Alabama, 1964

Sale Date: December 15, 2017

Auction Closed

Otis and Willi Mae Hicks' Store, outside..., 1987

William Christenberry

Otis and Willi Mae Hicks' Store, outside..., 1987

Sale Date: December 15, 2017

Auction Closed

House near Marion, Alabama, 1964

William Christenberry

House near Marion, Alabama, 1964

Sale Date: December 15, 2017

Auction Closed

King Cobra, Memphis, Tennessee, 1993

William Christenberry

King Cobra, Memphis, Tennessee, 1993

Sale Date: December 15, 2017

Auction Closed

Rear of Cotton Gin, Greensboro, Alabama, 1981

William Christenberry

Rear of Cotton Gin, Greensboro, Alabama, 1981

Sale Date: December 15, 2017

Auction Closed

Church, Sprott, Alabama, 1977

William Christenberry

Church, Sprott, Alabama, 1977

Sale Date: December 15, 2017

Auction Closed

English (US)

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