Jackson Bailey, without ever having an art lesson, is regarded as one of the finest artists of Modern times.  Known as the man from Dixie, he was a man of simplicity.

              He was born March 21, 1927, in Atlanta.  As an anemic baby of 3 months in 1927, he was to die from pneumonia but survived.  As an anemic baby of 17 months in 1929, he was to die from infantile paralysis (polio) but lived. He was never supposed to walk, but did; however, with a limp.  As a young man in 1960 he suffered from a stroke, but completely healed.  An antique collector’s pistol accidentally fired into his body in 1971 and he lived.  In June 1975, his skull was lifted and a tumor removed.  Five times he was down, but continued to live to benefit humanity.

The wife of his father’s employer gave him a paint set at the age of 5.  Ocular animation (giving realism and illusion whereby people and objects appear to move on the canvas) was his discovery during that period.

He often visited the fire station at the corner of Boulevard and Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, where he played marbles with Martin Luther King, Jr.

He developed toys, painted, designed and illustrated for many publications; developed the DeKalb County Flag; designed the seal for the City of Rutledge; formed the Jackson Bailey Art Institute and painted many great canvasses.  Some are the Martin Brothers, Robert E. Lee, The Creation, First Love, Wisdom, Way of The Cross, Way of Life, and The Life of Christ.

The Life of Christ is magnificent full color oil on canvas master work spanning 1,000 feet, rising to the height of 11 feet.  There are 55 major events in the 33 years of Christ portrayed in the painting.

Bailey saw things in gigantic proportions.  He undertook that which others left alone.  His artwork was accomplished in the timely style which has been named “In the Language of the People”.....that is to say his work is immediately understood without stretching one’s imagination or having to have someone explain what’s what.

Jackson Bailey dedicated his life to interpreting the scripture through his paintings. He had the greatest teacher of all at his side, Jesus Christ.