Lauren Ford (23 January 1891 - 30 August 1973) was an American painter and author. Ford's works were held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Museum of Modern Art. Outside of painting, her book The Ageless Story was named a Caldecott Medal Honor in 1940.
Lauren Ford | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Julia Lauren Ford January 23, 1891 |
| Died | August 30, 1973 (aged 82) |
| Notable work | The Country Doctor (1937) |
| Awards | Caldecott Medal Honor (1940) |
Early life and education
editFord was born on 23 January 1891 in New York City, New York. She went to school at the Art Students League of New York and Académie Colarossi in Paris, France.[1] When Ford was one and a half years old, she was taught by her mother how to draw.[2]
Career
editFord began her career in painting before writing. In 1928, her artwork was selected to be held at the Ferargil Galleries in New York. In the 1930s, her painting Choir Practice was shown at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.[1] In 1937, Ford's painting The Country Doctor placed in second for the Popular Prize at the Annual Exhibition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[3] Additional museums Ford's paintings were shown at include the Museum of Modern Art and the Art Institute of Chicago.[1] Outside of painting, Ford was a writer and an illustrator. Ford wrote her first book in 1934 titled The Little Book About God with following books including Our Lady's Book in 1962 and Lauren Ford's Christmas Book in 1963. For illustrations, Ford illustrated for multiple authors including Clare Boothe Luce and Winston Churchill.[4] Choir Practice is currently owned by the National Gallery of Art.[5]
Awards and honors
editFord's book The Ageless Story, a 1939 picture book about Mary and the birth and childhood of Jesus, was awarded with a Caldecott Medal Honor in 1940.[6]
Personal life
editAt the time of her death, Ford had a daughter who she had adopted.[7]
Death
editFord died on 30 August 1973 in Waterbury, Connecticut.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c Hazard, Peggy J. (1995). "Ford, Lauren (1891-1973)". In Heller, Jules; Heller, Nancy G. (eds.). North American Women Artists of the Twentieth Century: A Biographical Dictionary. Routledge. p. 189. ISBN 0824060490.
- ^ "Lauren Ford Paints Her Own Connecticut". Life. 4 July 1938. p. 26.
- ^ "Waugh is again the people's choice". Life. 20 December 1937. p. 24.
- ^ "Lauren Ford Art Featured in SHU Holiday Exhibit". The Bridgeport Post (Bridgepost, Connecticut). 23 December 1973. p. E12.
- ^ "Choir Practice". www.nga.gov. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- ^ "Caldecott Medal & Honor Books, 1938-Present". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ a b "'LAUREN FORD, ARTIST IN RELIGIOUS STYLE". New York Times. 31 August 1973. p. 28. Retrieved 18 February 2018.