Grant wood - biography

The small town atmosphere and farmland landscaping would become a significant factor of his future success as an artist. His brightly created oil paintings of bountiful farms and of the local people would contrast the view of hopelessness during the Great Depression during the period in which they were painted. Grant Wood tried to capture the inspirational and unique essence of the Midwest for a uniquely American style of painting, based on various influences from European and German artists, but with a style of his own.

Grant Wood promoted the Regionalism movement in art, shunning the city with its technology and urban lifestyle, in order to focus on the scenic, rural life of the Midwest, and America. Regionalism was at its height from , with other artists such as Thomas Hart from Missouri, and John Steuart Curry from Kansas. The scenic paintings with humble subjects, and the anti-modernist style, depicted everyday life.

Grant was one of four children Frank, Jack and Nan who lived on the farm until their father died unexpectedly. Grant was ten years old. We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Frida Kahlo. Jean-Michel Basquiat. Georgia O'Keeffe. Fernando Botero. Bob Ross. Gustav Klimt. Lili Elbe.

Working Artist In Chicago, Wood spent his days at his jewelry and metalworking shop and his evenings developing his talents through correspondence courses and classes at the Art Institute. When she died in , her estate, along with Wood's personal effects and various works of art, became the property of the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa. In , Grant was awarded the Iowa Prize, the state's highest citizen honor.

The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in and was featured in the documentary, Beyond the Bricks. Over the years, Hayes purchased four land parcels behind the home. This addition led to the expansion of his vision for to include a rotating community of artists modeled after the colonies that Wood tried to establish in his lifetime such as the one at Stone City.

The fellows are provided with furnished living quarters in the houses behind Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. American painter — For the politician, see Grant Woods. Anamosa, Iowa , U. Iowa City, Iowa , U. Early life [ edit ].

Career [ edit ]. Work [ edit ]. Regionalism [ edit ]. American Gothic [ edit ]. Main article: American Gothic. Personal life [ edit ]. Legacy [ edit ]. Gallery [ edit ]. Daughters of Revolution , , Cincinnati Art Museum. Sentimental Ballad , , New Britain Museum. January , —41, Cleveland Museum of Art. Numerous exhibitions in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, helped Wood establish himself as an important regional artist; by he was teaching and lecturing across the United States.

Wood was a leading exponent of American Scene painting, depicting views of the Midwest, particularly his native Iowa, that conveyed a reverence for the rural community and praise for the hard-working farmer. His most famous work, American Gothic , is an American icon. Open Daily, a. Collection Highlights 20th Century. Asian American Art.