About Walter

From the time he was a young child, Walter Mosley imagined a life in art. He began his professional painting career in California, receiving multiple honors from the Society of Western Artists while studying privately with Bob Gerbracht. He then earned his BA in Art from San Jose State University, where he studied with Maynard Stewart and was awarded membership in the Golden Key Honor Society. Upon graduation, Walter moved to New York and began studying at the Art Students League. He worked closely there with his mentor Frank Mason for 10 years.

Painting according to Walter:  

“I feel supreme joy in the visual world around me. Classical beauty and the sublime I love, but so too the often overlooked, more mundane, even commonplace, I find, can be fascinating. What attracts me to a subject matter for painting material is difficult to describe except to say that something clicks within me and I know in an instant that I’ve found something worthy of my sustained attention. Painting for me is really ‘getting into the zone’; it’s a meditative state – a spiritual, religious experience. My ultimate goal in creating a painting, in creating a work of art, besides creating something beautiful, is to portray a mood and have the viewer share an emotional experience.”

Walter lived in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY from 1989 until his death in 2019. He painted almost every day.

Scroll down to learn more about Walter’s legacy.

Walter’s Legacy

After his death, Walter left his artwork to his five beloved nieces and nephews: Maeli, Ben, Lucy Grace, Mary Lynn, and Jackson Hardy. We have donated his paintings and sketches to art appreciators, community centers, hospitals and hospices, elder communities, and nonprofit organizations.

When we look at our uncle's paintings, we are transported back to the many times we sat beside him, matching his gaze as he quietly described the light on a puddle or the gradient of green in the tree canopy. He showed his love by inviting us to share in his deep attention to the beauty around us. Now, we hope to share these moments of connection with others.

We thank everyone who visited us at the Wilmette French Market this July.  During the three weeks that Walter’s family ran the Walter Mosley Art Legacy Booth, literally thousands of paintings found loving homes.  We were touched to have this opportunity to share Walter’s legacy and make his work accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.

At this time, we are no longer actively distributing Walter’s paintings.  You are still invited to reach out to us to recommend organizations to receive future painting donations.  We also always welcome messages of support and appreciation for Walter’s work.