Creator Record
Metadata
Name |
Ridderhof Martin, Phyllis |
Dates & places of birth and death |
1905-1993 |
Nationality |
American |
Occupation |
Education |
Notes |
Phyllis Ridderhof Martin (American, 1905-1993) was born Phyllis French in Webster, South Carolina. At a young age, her family moved to California where she would stay for the majority of her life. She attended Hollywood High School and continued her education at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). She graduated with a Bachelor's of Education in 1926. After graduating, Ridderhof Martin took summer oil painting classes at The Otis Art Institute at the Parsons School of Arts and Design in Los Angeles. In 1927, Ridderhof Martin substituted for a figure drawing class and continued to teach adult art classes for 32 years through the Los Angeles public school system. She received a four year scholarship to the Arts Center College of Design in Los Angeles and studied fashion drawing and printmaking from 1928-1931. She participated in many exhibitions throughout her life. While in California, Ridderhof Martin completed portrait commissions for Fred Eaton, Francisco Franco, James S. Kemper, and more. Ridderhof Martin's style is associated with the Bay Area Figurative painters. These artists combine elements of Abstract Expressionism with traditional figurative subjects such as landscapes, still-lifes, nudes, and portraits. Ridderhof Martin was traditionally trained in painting and drawing. Nudes and portraits were her primary subjects, and throughout her career her experimentation can be seen in her choice of color and application of material. Her style evolved through experimentation inspired by her travel to Europe in the 1950s and exposure to Monet, Matisse, and Bonnard. Ridderhof Martin was a member of the Los Angeles Museum of Arts, Museum of Arts and Crafts, Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and Otis Art Associates. She was a founding member of Municipal Art Associates, and president from 1967-1969. She also taught anatomy to Disney cartoonists in the 1930s. Phyllis Ridderhof Martin married David Ridderhof in January, 1926. The two had a son, David Ridderhof Jr, and a daughter, Carol Ridderhof. In the 1960s, Phyllis and David traveled to many places such as Egypt, Italy, and Japan. David passed away in 1969, and Phyllis married William Martin in 1971. William passed away in 1983 and Carol passed away in 1984. She married Romauld Wacinowski in 1986, and he passed away in 1988. Phyllis Ridderhof Martin passed away on Thursday, April 29, 1993 at her home in Westmont, VA. Phyllis Ridderhof Martin and her husband Romauld Wacinowski retired to Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1987. In 1991, she donated $550,000 to Mary Washington College (now University of Mary Washington) for the construction of an art gallery. Along with this donation she loaned the college a number of artworks to be used in rotational exhibitions. After her death, the family donated around 300 of her works, including preliminary sketches, childhood drawings, and self-portraits to the new gallery. |
Role |
Artist |
Education |
1926 University of California, Los Angeles The Otis Art Institute at the Parsons School of Arts and Design, Los Angeles 1928-1931 Arts Center College of Design, Los Angeles |
