Knoxville artist Horace Pittman (Ali Akbar) dies

Details incomplete on death of local painter, poet

The late Knoxville-based artist Ali Akbar, also known as Horace Pittman

The late Knoxville-based artist Ali Akbar, also known as Horace Pittman

The late Knoxville-based artist Ali Akbar, also known as Horace Pittman

The late Knoxville-based artist Ali Akbar, also known as Horace Pittman

— Horace Pittman, better known to Knoxvillians as Ali Akbar, has died. Pittman was a painter, poet, musician and general scenester in town. Pittman died at University of Tennessee Medical Center. Friends say he was recently diagnosed with diabetes, but no details of his death have been released. Pittman was 64.

Parker Funeral Home, 870 Saluda Street, Rock Hill, S.C. 29730, is handling the arrangements. A funeral service and visitation will be at noon on Saturday, Dec. 19. The funeral home phone number is 803-329-1414.

Some acquaintances of Ali Akbar are offering remembrances of the artist in a message-board thread at KnoxBlab.com.

Get Copyright Permissions © 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!

© 2009 Knoxville.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments » 1

kthoma14 writes:

He was a "gorilla artist". He...will...be... missed.

Share your thoughts

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Comments can be shared on Facebook and Yahoo!. Add both options by connecting your profiles.