Leroy Almon

Leroy Almon
Born	1938 Tallapoosa, Georgia, U.S.
Died	1997
Occupation(s)	Woodcarver, painter, ordained minister, police dispatcher
Known for	Woodcarving and painting

Leroy Almon (1938–1997) was an American creator known for his distinctive woodcarving and painting.

Life

Almon was born in Tallapoosa, Georgia and grew up in Ohio. He initially worked as a show salesman before joining the Coca-Cola Company in Columbus, Ohio. In 1979, at Gay Tabernacle Baptist Church, he encountered Elijah Pierce, who became his mentor, guiding him in woodcarving techniques and how to manage an art gallery.

After marrying Mary Alice Almon, he returned to Tallapoosa in 1982 to renovate his childhood residence. Throughout his life, he served as an ordained minister, a nondenominational evangelist, and also worked as a police dispatcher. Almon passed away from a heart attack in 1997.

Career

Upon moving back to Tallapoosa, Almon transformed his basement into a workspace where he crafted woodblocks using hand tools. His artistic method involved sketching designs onto softwood panels, carving them in shallow relief, and then embellishing the pieces with paint, glitter, beads, plastic, or found objects. His Christian faith deeply influenced both his personal life and artistic output.

Almon’s creations have been displayed at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and numerous academic institutions. His artworks are included in permanent collections at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, American Folk Art Museum, Ackland Art Museum, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Birmingham Museum of Art, Pérez Art Museum Miami, and the High Museum of Art, Atlanta.