Reed grew up in the Appalachian hill country of southeastern Ohio, earning the nickname “Popeye” for the strong arms he built working with wood and stone. He carved native hardwoods like walnut, and stone including flint, limestone, and sandstone, and over time made thousands of artworks. He was best known for figural works, particularly characters from legend or myth, such as this rendering of Venus, the Roman goddess of beauty, fertility, and prosperity. Reed earned a loyal local and regional following, but wider recognition of his carvings did not come during his lifetime.
(We Are Made of Stories: Self-Taught Artists in the Robson Family Collection, 2022)
