Winfred Rembert: Life, Leather, and Legacy

In Brunk Auction’s upcoming sale, American & Southern on September 11, 2025 at 9am CT, three pieces by artist Winfred Rembert will be up for auction. Winfred Rembert (1945–2021) is a  self-taught artist whose powerful storytelling was carved into leather. His work offers an unflinching yet celebratory record of African American life in the segregated South. 

A Voice Carved in Leather
Born in Cuthbert, Georgia, Rembert grew up in poverty and worked long hours in cotton fields. As a young man, he was arrested during a Civil Rights demonstration, survived a near-lynching, and served years on a prison chain gang. While incarcerated, he learned to tool and dye leather; a skill that became the foundation of his art.

Photo: Renan Ozturk, Courtesy Hauser & Wirth

Using leather instead of canvas, Rembert developed a distinctive practice of carving, stamping, and painting vibrant scenes that capture both the hardship and joy of Southern Black life. From cotton-picking fields to juke joints, church gatherings to chain gangs, his works stand as living testimony to memory, community, and survival.

Recognition and Legacy
Rembert’s artistry gained recognition later in life, culminating in major gallery and museum exhibitions. His memoir, Chasing Me to My Grave: An Artist’s Memoir of the Jim Crow South, won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2022, further cementing his voice as a vital witness to American history. Today, his work is sought after by collectors for its narrative depth, craftsmanship, and historical importance.

Featured Lots from the Sale: 

Winfred Rembert - Whiskey Still
This dyed, carved, and tooled leather piece (10¼ × 23½ in.) is inscribed “This is a Whiskey Still / To Chicken George / from Winfred Rembert” on the verso, with “Rembert” on the truck image on the upper right side.  The work’s bright colors and storytelling detail evoke rural ingenuity and memory.

Provenance: Purchased from the artist
Lot 1076
Estimate: $20,000 - $40,000

Winfred Rembert - Self Portrait
A smaller yet intimate self-portrait, executed in dye on tooled leather (11 × 7 in. sight), inscribed “Winfred Rembert.” Mounted in a white gallery frame (16 × 12½ in.), this piece offers a deeply personal look into the artist’s identity and creative gaze.

Provenance: Purchased from the artist
Lot 1077
Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000

Winfred Rembert - Water Break
Depicting a scene of rest or labor-life pause, this leather work (13 × 11½ in.) is inscribed “W Rembert” on a cotton bail. The craftsmanship gives texture and life to a simple moment. 

A Rare Opportunity
For collectors, these works represent more than artifacts; they are pieces of living history, bearing witness to resilience, creativity, and the power of memory.

Explore the full catalog and register to bid on these lots on Bidsquare.com.