Minnie Evans (American, 1892–1987) was a visionary artist from Wilmington, NC, celebrated as one of the most significant American artists of the 20th century. Born Minnie Eva Jones in Long Creek, Pender County, North Carolina, her early life was shaped by her family’s resilience in the face of post-Emancipation challenges and segregation. Raised in a household that valued strong religious beliefs and a deep connection to nature, her artistic journey began with vivid dreams and visions that she experienced from childhood. Despite limited formal education, her imagination flourished, and she was later compelled by what she described as a divine mandate to “draw or die.”

Evans began her artistic career in the 1930s and worked prolifically, producing thousands of intricate works that combined elements of nature, mythology, and spirituality. Her pieces often featured symmetrical patterns, vibrant colors, and a recurring motif of eyes, angels, and abstract designs. Much of her inspiration came from her surroundings, particularly Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC, where she worked as a gatekeeper from 1948 to 1974. This lush botanical setting profoundly influenced her art, which she often sold directly to visitors for modest sums. Self-taught and deeply connected to her spiritual visions, Evans’ art gained recognition through exhibits in Wilmington NC, New York and across the country starting in the 1960s, facilitated by her friend and advocate Nina Howell Starr. Today, her works are held in major museums, including the High Museum of Art (Atlanta, GA) the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, DC), the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York, NY), and others. Cameron Art Museum, which preserves the largest collection of her creations, continues to celebrate her legacy through exhibitions and scholarly research.