Triptych with Cat and Dog

From Fayetteville, Georgia, Nellie Mae Rowe embraced her creativity after the death of her husband in 1948. At first, she began decorating her house and yard (her “playhouse”) with her art, revealing an aptitude for color and pattern that transferred onto her drawings. Triptych with Cat and Dog depicts Rowe’s characteristic intricate patterns and vibrant colors through three distinct yet interrelated panels. From left to right, playful blue animals roam between domestic interiors and frenetic environments, concluding with a hybridized flora and fauna creature. As most of her late drawings were autobiographical, the figure in the central panel likely represents the artist.