Margaret Hicks
Encyclopedia
Margaret Turner Hicks was a world-renowned producer and promoter of Miniature Art
.
Favoring representational art, Hicks painted landscapes and still lifes and the occasional portrait
, using small brushes and a magnifying glass to achieve a high level of detail in paintings that were often just 2 to 4 inches wide.
Hicks often lectured on Miniature Art and was President of the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington
from 1983 to 1988. In 1993 she published a miniature book
on the topic — measuring just 2 7/8 by 2 5/8 inches — called Art in Miniature. As a collector of miniature books, Hicks "felt it would make a lot of sense" to do a miniature book on art in miniature. The book covers small-scale painting, sculpture, and engraving. All proceeds from the book went to a scholarship program for Washington DC high school students planning to study art.
Hicks' paintings and other artwork were exhibited in Washington and Baltimore, London
, Japan
, and at the U.S. Embassy in Gambia. Several of her pieces were among the more than 500 works in an international exhibition of miniature art she helped organize at the Smithsonian Institution
's S. Dillon Ripley Center in 2004.
Margaret Turner Hicks was born in Philadelphia. She graduated from Temple University
and went on to study art in Germany
while her husband (now-retired Army Col. Stanford R. Hicks) was posted overseas. She also taught elementary school and tutored soldiers before becoming a full-time artist in 1968, a year after the couple settled in Washington, DC.
Hicks was an active leader in her community: President of The American Art League in Washington, member of the Arts club of Washington, Arts for Aging, The Miniature Art Society of Washington and other arts and civic groups. In addition to miniature art, she also made jewelry and clothing; her sweaters were known to be especially elaborate. She died of cancer on August 3rd, 2006.
Miniature Art
Miniature art is a genre that focuses on art in much-smaller-than-usual sizes. Miniature art societies, such as the World Federation of Miniaturists , provide applicable definitions of the term....
.
Favoring representational art, Hicks painted landscapes and still lifes and the occasional portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
, using small brushes and a magnifying glass to achieve a high level of detail in paintings that were often just 2 to 4 inches wide.
Hicks often lectured on Miniature Art and was President of the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington
Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington
The Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. is an invitation-only organization dedicated to the promotion and encouragement of the practice of producing fine art in miniature. This miniature art society is headquartered in Washington, DC but includes members from...
from 1983 to 1988. In 1993 she published a miniature book
Miniature book
A miniature book is a very small book, sized from .5 inches square to roughly 2 by 3 inches—no larger than 3 inches in height, width or thickness. These books became more popular in the last few decades of the 19th century because they were portable and easy to conceal. One could carry a vast...
on the topic — measuring just 2 7/8 by 2 5/8 inches — called Art in Miniature. As a collector of miniature books, Hicks "felt it would make a lot of sense" to do a miniature book on art in miniature. The book covers small-scale painting, sculpture, and engraving. All proceeds from the book went to a scholarship program for Washington DC high school students planning to study art.
Hicks' paintings and other artwork were exhibited in Washington and Baltimore, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and at the U.S. Embassy in Gambia. Several of her pieces were among the more than 500 works in an international exhibition of miniature art she helped organize at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's S. Dillon Ripley Center in 2004.
Margaret Turner Hicks was born in Philadelphia. She graduated from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and went on to study art in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
while her husband (now-retired Army Col. Stanford R. Hicks) was posted overseas. She also taught elementary school and tutored soldiers before becoming a full-time artist in 1968, a year after the couple settled in Washington, DC.
Hicks was an active leader in her community: President of The American Art League in Washington, member of the Arts club of Washington, Arts for Aging, The Miniature Art Society of Washington and other arts and civic groups. In addition to miniature art, she also made jewelry and clothing; her sweaters were known to be especially elaborate. She died of cancer on August 3rd, 2006.
"There is something fascinating about the exquisite art of miniature painting. The skill of the artist, reflected in the detail and delicate quality of the painting, reveals a world view often overlooked, except by those who take the time to see." — Margaret Hicks, artist's statement