In 1974, a 32-year-old domestic worker, L.V. Hull, bought a small house on Allen Street in Kosciusko, Mississippi. According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the woman spent $7,000 on the 900-square-foot home, which she could afford because she worked cleaning other people’s houses. What the trust calls “modest means” is what the woman needed to transform the place into what would later be known as an “unusual” artwork. She spent the rest of her life decorating the house inside and out with paint, found objects, hubcaps, Easter baskets, and old shoes until the ordinary home became an art landmark. For those who think you need an MFA, gallery connections, and a Brooklyn address to be taken seriously as a creator, Ms. Hull is an inspiration.
From domestic service to a “beacon of creativity”
