Fred Nall Hollis

Fred Nall Hollis is an American artist who uses the name "Nall".

He owns a studio and gallery in Fairhope, Alabama.

Nall was born in Troy, Alabama, the son of Mary Winifred Nall Hollis and Joe Frost Hollis.

His father, a banker, later moved the family to Arab, Alabama, where Nall finished high school.

Nall then attended the University of Alabama, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in art with minors in psychology and political science.

Nall had been friends with Baldwin from the early-1970s because Baldwin would buy him drinks at the Café de Flore.

Nall recalled talking to Baldwin about racism in Alabama with the racially conscious author.

In one conversation, Nall told Baldwin that "Through your books you liberated me from my guilt about being so bigoted coming from Alabama and because of my homosexuality."

Baldwin insisted that "No, you liberated me in revealing this to me."

Nall is close friends with Albert II, Prince of Monaco and Catherine Deneuve who both own multiple works created by him.

He is also a friend of Ringo Starr.

Nall was admitted to study at the École des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts) of Paris, France in 1971.

He traveled widely, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, India, and Mexico, with his art being influenced by surroundings ranging from Arabic and Byzantine architecture to Alabama quilts.

His art was soon recognized and exhibited in the United States as well as Europe.

He studied under Salvador Dalí (no presented visual record exists yet of such a correspondence) who trained him in artistic techniques and inspired him to devote his life to the pursuit of beauty through artwork.

Nall took care of James Baldwin on his deathbed.

In 1986, Nall bought a studio in Vence, France, and began publishing his line engravings.

This led to his acquiring the existing Karolyi Foundation and from this creating the N.A.L.L. (Nature Art & Life League) Art Association.

Located on a three-hectare (seven and one-half-acre) estate in a valley between Vence and [Saint-Paul-de-Vence], Nall spent 3 years personally rebuilding and renovating the entire existing houses and adding a Museum to house and exhibit his artwork.

The N.A.L.L. Art Association offered artistic training for college students and provided a cultural life through exhibitions and conferences.

The facilities included ten cabins and studios for artists and a studio-museum.

The N.A.L.L. was lost to his ex-wife, Tuscia Cole, in a divorce and is now closed to the public.

She has taken up residence there and has invited her family to live in his museum and in the former 'artists and writers cabins'.

Nall has gained an international reputation for works in many media.

The following is a summary from Solo-Mosacio:

In 1991, Nall was an artist-in-residence at Troy State University.

Nall was also an Artist-in-Residence at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa (2000), and Miami Dade College (2006).

Monaco installed two monumental mosaics by Nall, "Pensee Sunrise" and "Pensee Sunset," in L'Opio tiles at their new cultural center, the Grimaldi Forum.

At the university's graduation ceremony on May 13, 2001, Nall was awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa degree.

In December 2005, this City-State issued a postage stamp illustrated from these mosaics.

On January 24, 2005, the Tuscany Council for Culture unveiled Nall's commissioned work "La Shoa" in memory of those Italians massacred during World War II.

Nall's monumental "Peace Frame" is also permanently installed as a gateway to Pietrasanta in Tuscany, the work site for some of Michelangelo's sculpture.

In 2007, Nall was named Alabama's Distinguished Artist of the Year by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Throughout his career, Nall has exhibited at over 300 one-man shows.

Troy University, in Troy, Alabama, dedicated a Nall Hollis Museum on permanent exhibit for Nall's work.

Nall has given over $4,000,000 worth of artwork to his home town's Troy University for this museum.