Frank Preacher Boyle

Frank “Preacher” Boyle (1933-2001)
“8 Faces of Jowiz Chasing the Rainbow” 1996 , 11”x15”
Another heavy hitting self taught Memphis artist ⚡️I found this amazing article about him written in 1997 by Fred Camper for the Chicago Reader, I’ll share a little bit of bio with y’all. As a child Boyle invented an imaginary play mate named Poingley Ping Ghost Ping. He would avoid his peers because he didn’t fit in and had a speech impediment , instead he would play with Poingley Ping under his house in a little moat he dug for himself. As early as age 5 Boyle began seeing a blue, bird like shape he came to call his “vision angel” which became a permanent fixture/ guiding light in his life. “It is the most beautiful thing, I stand up and talk to Jowiz. Some nights I look up and say, There you is, man. When I’m walking down the street, I say, “ Hey Jo, let me follow you today…” Preacher Boyle ended up following his vision angels toward employment at some of the most prominent hotels and clubs of that time. His perseverance in finding sobriety after a long battle with addiction exists as a more “of the earth” theme found in his otherwise childlike,fantastical, supernatural work. After his repeated run ins with druggin and drinkin (as he would say) he started a street ministry in Los Angeles ( New Leaf Ministry) and brought that very ministry back to Memphis Tn when he returned to care for his father. I have always admired his tenacity and belief that if he kept doing gods work (making art & staying sober) god would protect and provide for him. Amen. I’ve included an image of the first piece I collected of his back in 2018, I ended up gifting it. ✌️🤍 I really hope someone reads the article - his employment history alone was astonishing , he got around. Started out on Beale street , then to Chicago , and Los Angeles … a true mover and a shaker ⚡️⚡️⚡️