World-renowned Alabama artist Fred Nall Harris passes away

FAIRHOPE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — An impactful artist who captured the hearts of those in Fairhope died on Saturday.

Fred Nall Hollis , a Southern American artist with an international following, owned a studio in Fairhope that showcased his original work. He was 76 years old when he died.

Although known by many in Fairhope, the Troy native was known around the world. He attended graduate school at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he was mentored by Salvador Dali.

Nall also bought Jean Dubuffet’s studio in Venice and had works displayed in Germany and Paris.

Back in Baldwin County, Nall had a portfolio of paintings, drawings, sculptures and even costume designs. Some of that work was showcased in the Grand Hotel in Point Clear. The hotel also created a suite named after him that includes a personal look at his paintings during a guest’s stay.

A close friend of Nall told WKRG News 5 about the kind of person he was and the impact he had on the community.

“He was so amazing. He was so talented,” Panini Pete CEO Pete Blohme said. “I don’t think there was any form of art that he couldn’t do. And I learned so much looking at his stuff firsthand and seeing him creating stuff. He’d go into the details; it wasn’t anything in his work that didn’t matter and wasn’t meaningful.

Nall’s legacy will continue to be honored in the Fairhope community and all over the world.

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