These pieces form the core oeuvre of The Miriam McClung Collection and are not for sale to the general public. If you are a museum, church, or institution, we would be more than happy to discuss an acquisition for your permanent collection.
These abstract works were done in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Miriam studied under noted abstract painter Mark Rothko during a University of Colorado summer session and post-undergraduate at the Art Student's League in New York City in 1958-1959.
These paintings, drawings, and sketches were done along the beaches of Alabama (Gulf Shores) and Florida (Inlet Beach, Panama City Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Rosemary Beach, and Alys Beach). Miriam's sister-in-law had a beach house there and invited her often as well as close friends at Gulf Shores.
A Birmingham native for almost her entire life, Miriam's most significant work revolves around the city and the places in it that she loves. The "villages" like Homewood, Mountain Brook, English Village, and Crestline are depicted in the rhythms of daily life.
Though Birmingham's original "Villages" are now the size of small cities, Miriam grew up in one of them (Mountain Brook) and painted all of them to include Mountain Brook, English Village, Homewood, Crestline, and Vestavia. Each village had its own unique character and Miriam enjoyed painting them all.
Churches and places of worship play a significant role society in Birmingham, Alabama since its founding. Miriam has depicted many of these places of worship through her paintings, drawings, and sketches.
Miriam was a student at the University of Alabama when then-Gov. George Wallace blocked the first Black student from entering. She also painted professionally in in Birmingham, her hometown, during the Civil Rights Movement. These events influenced her work then and in the decades beyond.
Crestline, Alabama was just a few miles from Miriam's childhood home, adult residence, and studio. She painted there for decades as she raised her family.
English Village was originally conceived by planners as one of several villages outside downtown Birmingham. Many of Miriam's biblical works are taken from English Village and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Miriam's paintings of this historic Five Points South area of Birmingham reflect her deep personal history and love with the area through all its changes.
Homewood, Alabama is one of Birmingham's villages. Miriam painted here often as she shopped and ate. A family favorite for decades was Savage's Bakery.
Miriam's home was adjacent to the small town of Irondale, AL. She loved to each lunch at the Irondale Cafe and draw at the railroad tracks outside of the restraunt.
Miriam grew up in and around this now well known part of Birmingham. Although Mountain Brook is it's own city, it was originally conceived by planners as one of several villages outside downtown Birmingham.
Miriam watched the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) grow from a medical center to a university to Alabama's largest employer. She painted and drew UAB as it expanded over the decades and took a sincere interest in it's success.
This series of paintings and drawings surrounding the birth of Christ depicted in the scriptures is unique as it uses places in Birmingham a the backdrop for the story.