WATTS INDEXThe canonical database of visual culture

Artists›Joseph Yoakum

Joseph Yoakum

Joseph Yoakum

American, 1891⚠–1972

WA-00042057

Window Rock, AZ, USA

Drawing

Representation

None documented

0

Institutional Exhibitions

237

Works in Collection

247

Assets Indexed

8

Authority-backed Facts

0

Publications Referenced

70%

Profile Completeness

Cultural Positioning

Influence Graph

No influence edges encoded yet.

Authority Records (1)

WikidataQ4410550

Field Verification (6 fields)

6 cross-verified · 0 single-source

Birth yearArtsy + Duplicate Merge· 85%✓
NationalityDuplicate Merge + Artsy· 85%✓
Is PublishedManual· 100%✓
Death yearDuplicate Merge· 85%✓
BiographyDuplicate Merge· 85%✓
Primary mediumDuplicate Merge· 85%✓

Source Registry (1)

Aichttps://www.artic.edu/artists/40896
Tier 3 · Scraped/inferred95%

About

Why this artist matters now

Joseph Elmer Yoakum was an American self-taught painter. He was of African-American and possibly of Native American–descent, and was known for his landscape paintings in the outsider art-style. He was age 76 when he started to record his memories in the form of imaginary landscapes and produced over 2,000 drawings during the last decade of his life.

Source: Aic · Trust score: 95% · Updated 1mo ago

Graph relationships

Taste overlap and adjacency

Movement

—

Medium

Drawing

Related Artists

6 in graph

Institutional

Museum Collections

Art Institute of ChicagoChicago Whitney Museum of American Art

Canonical record

Artworks (237)

A Patch of Mayple Trees Gonziere Park at Spokane Washington

A Patch of Mayple Trees Gonziere Park at Spokane Washington

1972 · Green, blue, purple, and black felt-tip pen and colored pencil on ivory wove paper

36.6 × 29.4 cm (14 7/16 × 11 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Flying Saucer Las Vagus/New Mexico

Flying Saucer Las Vagus/New Mexico

1972 · Blue felt-tip pen on ivory wove paper

21.4 × 27.9 cm (8 7/16 × 11 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Mt Inesburg in Chilli Cliff Range Near Hanford Washington in Washington State 10/22-1972

Mt Inesburg in Chilli Cliff Range Near Hanford Washington in Washington State 10/22-1972

1972 · Black fountain pen, black felt-tip pen, pastel, and colored pencil on ivory wove paper

58.8 × 36.9 cm (23 3/16 × 14 9/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Mt Westley of Denver Colorado

Mt Westley of Denver Colorado

1972 · Colored felt-tip pen and pastel on cream wove paper

35.4 × 27.7 cm (13 15/16 × 10 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Ruff Hills in Old Virginia Near Richmond Virginia

The Ruff Hills in Old Virginia Near Richmond Virginia

1972 · Blue ballpoint pen, blue felt-tip pen, pastel, and colored pencil on ivory wove paper

27.9 × 21.5 cm (11 × 8 1/2 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The National Safety at Brest France Home Guard Town for Coastal Landing Safety

The National Safety at Brest France Home Guard Town for Coastal Landing Safety

1972 · Blue ballpoint pen, green and brown felt-tip pen, and colored pencil on cream wove paper

36.7 × 29.5 cm (14 1/2 × 11 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

This a Family of Plunze Oak Trees of New Mexico 2 Miles North of Browns View Milles Village Colorado

This a Family of Plunze Oak Trees of New Mexico 2 Miles North of Browns View Milles Village Colorado

1972 · Colored felt-tip pen, and black fountain pen on ivory wove paper

36.6 × 29.4 cm (14 7/16 × 11 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Mt Blessing Game

Mt Blessing Game

1972 · Black ballpoint pen, red felt-tip pen, and pastel on cream wove paper

35.6 × 27.7 cm (14 1/16 × 10 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Mt Whoy of South Carolina South East United States

Mt Whoy of South Carolina South East United States

1972 · Red and purple felt-tip pen and pastel on cream wove paper

35.7 × 27.7 cm (14 1/16 × 10 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Flint Hills Peak: Near Luck in Central Missouri (recto); Big Berthas Heavy Range Field Artillery (verso)

Flint Hills Peak: Near Luck in Central Missouri (recto); Big Berthas Heavy Range Field Artillery (verso)

1972 · Blue felt-tip pen, colored pencil, and pastel on cream wove paper

20.3 × 25.2 cm (8 × 9 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

This Mountain is Near Nevada Capital (Reno Nevada) (recto); Mt National Near Memphis Tennessee and Kentuckey/This mtn is Great attraction to people Driving/ passed It Route #2, to/ Jacksonville Florida (verso)

This Mountain is Near Nevada Capital (Reno Nevada) (recto); Mt National Near Memphis Tennessee and Kentuckey/This mtn is Great attraction to people Driving/ passed It Route #2, to/ Jacksonville Florida (verso)

1972 · Blue felt-tip pen and pastel on cream wove paper

25.2 × 20.3 cm (9 15/16 × 8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Mt Holling Well in Range Pit at Holling Well Vally near Broken Heart Valley on little Colorado River near Valley between Teras and Old Mexico 9/21-1971 time now 8:50 am

Mt Holling Well in Range Pit at Holling Well Vally near Broken Heart Valley on little Colorado River near Valley between Teras and Old Mexico 9/21-1971 time now 8:50 am

1971 · Black fountain pen, blue felt-tip pen, and colored pencil on ivory wove paper

58.8 × 36.9 cm (23 3/16 × 14 9/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Mt. Suliwulia in Kunlun Mtn Era. Near Chiuchuan of East Central China East Asia

Mt. Suliwulia in Kunlun Mtn Era. Near Chiuchuan of East Central China East Asia

1971 · Purple felt-tip pen, blue ballpoint pen, pastel, and colored pencil on cream wove paper

48.3 × 30.2 cm (19 1/16 × 11 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Flying Saucer in 1958

Flying Saucer in 1958

1971 · Purple and blue felt-tip pen, pastel, colored pencil, and blue ballpoint pen on cream wove paper

30.2 × 24.5 cm (11 15/16 × 9 11/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Unity of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on South Point of Argentina and Chilli South America

The Unity of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on South Point of Argentina and Chilli South America

1971 · Pink, blue, and black felt-tip pen, blue ballpoint pen, pastel, and colored pencil on ivory wove paper

30.7 × 48.3 cm (12 1/8 × 19 1/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Mt. Liotian in Greater Khiangian Mtn Range near Titrihar Deep Southern Cina East asia

Mt. Liotian in Greater Khiangian Mtn Range near Titrihar Deep Southern Cina East asia

1971 · Red and gray felt-tip pen, blue ballpoint pen, and colored pencil on cream wove paper

30 × 48.3 cm (11 13/16 × 19 1/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Synthi Walwo Only Indian Million (Air) in U.S. Derived from Oil Wells and Refinery in Boley Oklahoma

Synthi Walwo Only Indian Million (Air) in U.S. Derived from Oil Wells and Refinery in Boley Oklahoma

1971 · Graphite pencil on translucent, cream wove paper (tracing paper)

30.5 × 48 cm (12 1/16 × 18 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Beulah Dudley 1st Negro Woman to Win Golff Record in year 1927.

Beulah Dudley 1st Negro Woman to Win Golff Record in year 1927.

1970 · Blue felt-tip pen, blue and black ballpoint pen, pastel, and colored pencil on cream wove paper

29.7 × 22.8 cm (11 3/4 × 9 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Granit Center Mound in Rockey Range Near Nome Alaska

Granit Center Mound in Rockey Range Near Nome Alaska

1970 · Black, blue, and purple ballpoint pen, black fountain pen, yellow felt-tip pen, pastel, and colored pencil on ivory wove paper

30.1 × 48.4 cm (11 7/8 × 19 1/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Jeneva Sands Moovie Actruss on Stage with Cecil Omalli in year of 1931

Jeneva Sands Moovie Actruss on Stage with Cecil Omalli in year of 1931

1970 · Carbon transfer, blue ballpoint pen, graphite pencil, and colored pencil on cream wove paper

27.7 × 21.3 cm (10 15/16 × 8 7/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Mt. Tingra Khan of Run Lun Mtn. Range Near Alzosu in Sinkiang Sector of SE China

Mt. Tingra Khan of Run Lun Mtn. Range Near Alzosu in Sinkiang Sector of SE China

1970 · Red and blue felt-tip pen, blue ballpoint pen, colored pencil, and pastel on cream wove paper

61.2 × 48.4 cm (24 1/8 × 19 1/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Mt. Amaro of South Central Near Rome Italy S.W. Europe

Mt. Amaro of South Central Near Rome Italy S.W. Europe

1970 · Blue felt-tip pen, black ballpoint pen, colored pencil, and pastel on cream wove paper

31.1 × 48.5 cm (12 1/4 × 19 1/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Wildernes of Ages Near BieRute Lebanon Asia

The Wildernes of Ages Near BieRute Lebanon Asia

1970 · Blue felt-tip pen, black and blue ballpoint pen, pastel, and colored pencil on cream wove paper

30.7 × 48.4 cm (12 1/8 × 19 1/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

An Official Train on Santife Rail Road Entering Belle Plains Arizona

An Official Train on Santife Rail Road Entering Belle Plains Arizona

1970 · Red and blue felt-tip pen, blue ballpoint pen, and pastel on ivory wove paper

30 × 48.3 cm (11 13/16 × 19 1/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

View all 237 artworks →

Artwork sources (2)

237 published of 239 catalogued · 237 with image

Art Institute Chicago
237 published237 img
+ 1 more source · 2 catalogued, not yet published

Record

Images

Artsy artwork: Fergus Falls Minnesota (n.d.)

Artsy

Artsy artwork: Argyle Canyon, Utah (n.d.)

Artsy

Artsy artwork: Imperial Valley (1965)

Artsy

Artsy artwork: Untitled (n.d.)

Artsy

Artsy artwork: Untitled

Artsy

Artsy artist portrait

Artsy

A Family Choice? (Art Institute of Chicago)

Art Institute of Chicago

Joseph Yoakum (Wikipedia)

Wikipedia

Relationships

3

Collections3

Art Institute of Chicago Whitney Museum of American Art Freeman's|Hindman

Institutional

Representation & Collections

In collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, United States

In collection

Whitney Museum of American Art

Market

Auction sale history

Houses that have sold works by this artist at auction

Freeman's|Hindman

Market

Auction History

Work	Auction House	Date	Estimate	Hammer Price
Untitled	Freeman's\|Hindman	Sep 2025	$8,000 – $12,000	Unsold

Record

Exhibitions and timeline

No exhibitions or timeline entries yet