TRUE ORGINALS III
GEORGE F GRANT LIMITED
CURATOR'S NOTE
We are excited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Original Tee Golf Classic with the third installation of the True Originals art exhibition by artist Ainsley Burrows. On this momentous anniversary, the exhibition will spotlight the person who inspired it all, George Franklin Grant.
Grant, the inventor of the golf tee, was a pioneering figure in dentistry and golf, being the second African-American graduate of Harvard Dental School and the first African-American professor at Harvard. He was also one of the first African-American golfers in post-Civil War America, known for his prowess in Boston alongside his daughter as his caddy. Grant’s invention of the first golf tee, coupled with his decision to gift his creations rather than profit from his patent, epitomized his generosity and dedication to the sport.
To further Wendell Haskins’ vision of ensuring that Grant’s contribution is never forgotten, Ainsley Burrows created 18 different portraits of Grant using his unique abstract/portrait style. Ten of the 18 paintings are still available for acquisition and Burrows will not paint any more portraits of Grant, creating an exclusive group of stewards to Grant’s legacy.
Being part of a limited club where each member owns a portrait crafted in Burrows’ distinctive style, embodies a connection to the roots and history of golf, pays homage to a pivotal figure in golf's evolution, and also serves as an investment vehicle. The limited edition nature of these portraits, with only 18 in existence, enhances their rarity and desirability. Moreover, Burrows’ continued emergence as a fine artist adds an additional layer of prestige to ownership. Owning one of these 18 portraits represents a rare opportunity to possess something truly exceptional and irreplaceable.
Each portrait serves as a conversation starter, a tangible link to the past that sparks discussions about innovation, perseverance, and the enduring appeal of the game. The artistic expression of Burrows imbues these portraits with a sense of vitality and personality, inviting viewers to engage with the subject on a more profound level. By uniting individuals who appreciate the finer nuances of both art and sport, this exclusive club offers not just ownership of a unique piece of history, but also the opportunity to form lasting connections with like-minded individuals who value the intersection of creativity and tradition.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ainsley Burrows (b. 1974 in Kingston, Jamaica) is a full-time multidisciplinary artist who explores untold stories and unspoken emotions. He is a poet, musician, and performer, as well as a painter, and his different creative pursuits influence each other. As a self-taught artist, Burrows began his visual art practice in 2009. He created hundreds of works between 2009 and 2020 as he sought to transform his success in writing into a visual language using predominantly acrylic paint on canvas.
During the pandemic in 2020, Burrows was forced to take a break from his livelihood, and fortunately was ready to hit the ground running in the art industry. He had spent the previous four years (2016-2019) creating a series of 125 paintings, called The Maroons: Rebellion. Select paintings from that series were the subject of Burrows’ first solo exhibition at State University of New York (SUNY) Oneonta in 2022.
Since then Burrows has been emerging as a prolific abstract artist with solo exhibitions at Rush Arts, Philadelphia, PA; Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD; The DC Arts Center, Washington, DC; and an upcoming solo exhibition at Gallery In The Sky (World Trade Center), Baltimore, MD. Burrows has participated in group exhibitions at Artscape, Baltimore, MD; 11:Eleven Gallery, Washington, DC; Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, VA; and Amos Eno Gallery, Brooklyn, NY.
His work is included in multiple private collections including those of Hill Harper, Jeffrey Wright, Wayee Chu, Lisane Basquiat, Jeanine and Herve Heriveaux, Raymond McGuire and the Capitol One Collection.
visit: AinsleyBurrowsArt.com