George Ayers Cress (American/Tennessee, 1921-2008) two (2) oil on canvas portraits, including one of a man in an orange shirt against a pale yellow background, unframed: 24 1/4" H x 18" W; and one of a woman in a red shirt against a teal background, unframed: 24" H x 20" W. Both unsigned and unframed, with museum accession numbers in pencil en verso lower right.

Biography: "George Cress was born in Anniston, Alabama and studied at Emory University, American University, and the University of Georgia, where he studied under fellow Southern contemporary artist Lamar Dodd. He was a central figure in Chattanooga's arts community and served as President of the Tennessee Arts Council. He sat on the board of the Hunter Museum of Art. From 1951-1984 he was painter in residence at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. The Cress Gallery of Art at UTC is named in his honor." (Source: The Tennessee Historical Quarterly Vol. XLIV No. 2: "Landscape and Genre Painting in Tennessee 1810-1985").

PROVENANCE: Property of the Hunter Museum of American Art.

Each overall good condition. Portrait of man with slight crease to upper stretcher bar, light surface scuffs.