Nan Phelps
Encyclopedia
Nan Phelps was an American folk artist from London, Kentucky
. Phelps’ work has often been compared to the more famous Grandma Moses
in both style and subject matter.
, the second child of Baptist
preacher John Hinkle and Lula Hinkle (née
Weaver). Phelps paternal grandfather William Hinkle was of Dutch descent. At a very young age, Phelps demonstrated an unusual interest in nature. She spent countless hours studying rocks, flowers, plants, streams, clouds, and small animals. The gift of a nickel box of crayons at age five unleashed a talent and unrelenting love for drawing
. Phelps branched off into painting
during her teen years when fortuitously a teacher provided her with some watercolors and paper.
In 1922 Phelps moved from Kentucky to Hamilton, Ohio. Through the difficult depression years, child-rearing, a divorce, remarriage and rearing a family of five children she continued her painting. It was during this time that Phelps began primarily using oil paint
s. In the 1930s Phelps’ work was exhibited at the nearby Cincinnati Art Museum
and in local arts and crafts shows. As the winner of a local talent show
in 1940, Phelps won a scholarship to attend the Art Academy of Cincinnati
.
In the 1950s Phelps traveled to New York City with a sample of her work in order to increase her exposure in the art world. During this visit, Phelps’ work gained the attention of Otto Kallir, the founder of the Galerie St. Etienne. Kallir is most widely known for discovering Grandma Moses and promoting her work. This began a long relationship between Phelps and the Galerie St. Etienne that continues today, through the children of Phelps and current Galerie St. Etienne directors Hildegard Bachert and Jane Kallir. After this trip, Phelps paintings became more widely known in the folk art world, leading to her work being exhibited in various museums. In the 1980s, Phelps’ work came to the attention of New York gallery owner and scholar of American folk art Jay Johnson. Johnson proceeded to acquire and display Phelps’ paintings in many exhibits, culminating in a solo exhibition of her work at the Jay Johnson America’s Folk Heritage Gallery. In 1989 Phelps’ exhibited two paintings in Daimaru Museum Kyoto, Japan along with other folk artists including Grandma Moses and Horace Pippin
. As part of the Friends of Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE), Phelps paintings have been displayed in United States Embassies in West Germany, Finland, and Denmark. Phelps’ painting Riverfront Stadium: Phillies and Reds was featured prominently on the front cover of A People and a Nation and during the “Feelin’ in Love” segment of David Letterman
’s Second Holiday Film Festival which aired in 1986.
Phelps died in early 1990 at age 85. She continued to paint up until her admittance to the hospital in late 1989. During the short hospital stay before her death, Phelps requested her paint brushes in order to paint, though she was not physically able. Some of the last words she spoke as she looked out the hospital window were “I wish I could paint those clouds”.
in describing her work. Her choice of subjects was broad and included landscapes
, still life
, tropical beaches, western scenes, and historic figures. She also painted traditional folk art subjects, such as scenes from rural American life, many of these paintings were inspired by her own childhood on the family farm. Phelps also painted many portraits. Her portraits primarily consisted of family members, especially her grandchildren. Some are reminiscent of the work of itinerant
19th century portrait painters, but the similarities are superficial. While they share the romantic charm characteristic of the Limner
portraits, Phelps’ subjects were set in context that demonstrates an intimacy that the oft-repeated backdrops of those earlier paintings lacked. According to the curator of the Kentucky Folk Art Center
Adrian Swain,
Phelps paintings not only varied in subject matter they also varied greatly in size and media. She produced paintings that ranged in size from 1” by 1” miniatures to 6’ by 17’ murals. Additionally, Phelps would paint not only upon canvas
but also on natural objects such as seashells and rocks.
Phelps works continue to be displayed in galleries, churches, museums, embassies, and private residences throughout the world.
London, Kentucky
-Education:All of the following schools are administered by the Laurel County School District.-Primary schools:* * * * * * * * * * * * -High schools:* * -Colleges:* Laurel Technical College* * -Notable natives:...
. Phelps’ work has often been compared to the more famous Grandma Moses
Grandma Moses
Anna Mary Robertson Moses , better known as "Grandma Moses", was a renowned American folk artist. She is often cited as an example of an individual successfully beginning a career in the arts at an advanced age. Although her family and friends called her either "Mother Moses" or "Grandma Moses,"...
in both style and subject matter.
Biography
Phelps was born in Lily, Laurel County, KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, the second child of Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
preacher John Hinkle and Lula Hinkle (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Weaver). Phelps paternal grandfather William Hinkle was of Dutch descent. At a very young age, Phelps demonstrated an unusual interest in nature. She spent countless hours studying rocks, flowers, plants, streams, clouds, and small animals. The gift of a nickel box of crayons at age five unleashed a talent and unrelenting love for drawing
Drawing
Drawing is a form of visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. Common instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, markers, styluses, and various metals .An artist who...
. Phelps branched off into painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
during her teen years when fortuitously a teacher provided her with some watercolors and paper.
In 1922 Phelps moved from Kentucky to Hamilton, Ohio. Through the difficult depression years, child-rearing, a divorce, remarriage and rearing a family of five children she continued her painting. It was during this time that Phelps began primarily using oil paint
Oil paint
Oil paint is a type of slow-drying paint that consists of particles of pigment suspended in a drying oil, commonly linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint may be modified by the addition of a solvent such as turpentine or white spirit, and varnish may be added to increase the glossiness of the...
s. In the 1930s Phelps’ work was exhibited at the nearby Cincinnati Art Museum
Cincinnati Art Museum
The Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the oldest art museums in the United States. Founded in 1881, it was the first purpose-built art museum west of the Alleghenies. Its collection of over 60,000 works make it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Midwest.Museum founders debated locating...
and in local arts and crafts shows. As the winner of a local talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
in 1940, Phelps won a scholarship to attend the Art Academy of Cincinnati
Art Academy of Cincinnati
The Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private college of art and design, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, in Cincinnati, Ohio...
.
In the 1950s Phelps traveled to New York City with a sample of her work in order to increase her exposure in the art world. During this visit, Phelps’ work gained the attention of Otto Kallir, the founder of the Galerie St. Etienne. Kallir is most widely known for discovering Grandma Moses and promoting her work. This began a long relationship between Phelps and the Galerie St. Etienne that continues today, through the children of Phelps and current Galerie St. Etienne directors Hildegard Bachert and Jane Kallir. After this trip, Phelps paintings became more widely known in the folk art world, leading to her work being exhibited in various museums. In the 1980s, Phelps’ work came to the attention of New York gallery owner and scholar of American folk art Jay Johnson. Johnson proceeded to acquire and display Phelps’ paintings in many exhibits, culminating in a solo exhibition of her work at the Jay Johnson America’s Folk Heritage Gallery. In 1989 Phelps’ exhibited two paintings in Daimaru Museum Kyoto, Japan along with other folk artists including Grandma Moses and Horace Pippin
Horace Pippin
Horace Pippin was a self-taught African-American painter. The injustice of slavery and American segregation figure prominently in many of his works.-Biography:...
. As part of the Friends of Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE), Phelps paintings have been displayed in United States Embassies in West Germany, Finland, and Denmark. Phelps’ painting Riverfront Stadium: Phillies and Reds was featured prominently on the front cover of A People and a Nation and during the “Feelin’ in Love” segment of David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
’s Second Holiday Film Festival which aired in 1986.
Phelps died in early 1990 at age 85. She continued to paint up until her admittance to the hospital in late 1989. During the short hospital stay before her death, Phelps requested her paint brushes in order to paint, though she was not physically able. Some of the last words she spoke as she looked out the hospital window were “I wish I could paint those clouds”.
Paintings
Phelps was a prolific painter. She worked continuously for over sixty years, producing in excess of 1000 paintings. Though her formal training consisted only of a correspondence course taken during the 1920s and a short stay at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Phelps rejected the term “naïve”Naïve art
Naïve art is a classification of art that is often characterized by a childlike simplicity in its subject matter and technique. While many naïve artists appear, from their works, to have little or no formal art training, this is often not true...
in describing her work. Her choice of subjects was broad and included landscapes
Landscape art
Landscape art is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. In other works landscape backgrounds for figures can still...
, still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
, tropical beaches, western scenes, and historic figures. She also painted traditional folk art subjects, such as scenes from rural American life, many of these paintings were inspired by her own childhood on the family farm. Phelps also painted many portraits. Her portraits primarily consisted of family members, especially her grandchildren. Some are reminiscent of the work of itinerant
Itinerant
An itinerant is a person who travels from place to place with no fixed home. The term comes from the late 16th century: from late Latin itinerant , from the verb itinerari, from Latin iter, itiner ....
19th century portrait painters, but the similarities are superficial. While they share the romantic charm characteristic of the Limner
Limner
A limner is an illuminator of manuscripts, or more generally, a painter of ornamental decoration. One of the earliest mentions of a limner's work is found in the book Methods and Materials of Painting by Charles Lock Eastlake .-Scotland:...
portraits, Phelps’ subjects were set in context that demonstrates an intimacy that the oft-repeated backdrops of those earlier paintings lacked. According to the curator of the Kentucky Folk Art Center
Kentucky Folk Art Center
The Kentucky Folk Art Center is a folk art museum administered by Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky, United States. Its focus is not only to preserve and educate the public on visual folk art art but also to promote traditional Appalachian traditional music, storytelling, literature,...
Adrian Swain,
“Her subject matter was eclectic, including landscapes, still life, western scenes and historic figures. Some of these paintings are reminiscent of the work of itinerant 19th century portrait painters. Yet the number and variety of setting in which she depicted various specific family members underscores Nan Phelps’ need to paint, her need to tell the story of her life while improvising the context, often humorous, in which she set her human subjects. She had a natural sense of form, color and design”
Phelps paintings not only varied in subject matter they also varied greatly in size and media. She produced paintings that ranged in size from 1” by 1” miniatures to 6’ by 17’ murals. Additionally, Phelps would paint not only upon canvas
Canvas
Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame...
but also on natural objects such as seashells and rocks.
Phelps works continue to be displayed in galleries, churches, museums, embassies, and private residences throughout the world.
Selected exhibitions (Solo)
- March 7 – June 13, 1999 – Kentucky Folk Art Center, Morehead, KentuckyMorehead, KentuckyAs of the census of 2010, there were 6,845 people, households, and families residing in the city. The population density was 726.2 people per square mile. There were 2,356 housing units at an average density of 253.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% White, 3.2% African...
. The Paintings of Nan Phelps. - November 6 – November 20 – Jay Johnson America’s Folk Heritage Gallery. Nan Phelps.
Selected exhibitions (Group)
- September 15–30, 1970 – Galerie Paula Insel, New York, New York
- January 1–25, 1974 – The Copley Society of ArtCopley Society of ArtThe Copley Society of art is America's oldest non-profit art association. It was founded in 1879 by the first graduating class of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and continues to play an important role in promoting its member artists and the visual arts in Boston...
, Boston, Massachusetts. - June 8–9, 1975 – Lynn Kottler Galleries, New York, New York
- January 1982 – Galerie St. Etienne, New York, New York
- March 29 - April 11, 1989 - Daimaru Museum, Kyoto, Japan
- May 13 – September 1990 – Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio
Permanent museum collections
- Museum of American Folk Art, New York, New York
- Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio
- The Henry Ford Art Collection, Detroit, Michigan
- Kentucky Folk Art Center
- New Orleans Museum of ArtNew Orleans Museum of ArtThe New Orleans Museum of Art is the oldest fine arts museum in the city of New Orleans. It is situated within City Park, a short distance from the intersection of Carrollton Avenue and Esplanade Avenue, and near the terminus of the "Canal Street - City Park" streetcar line...
, New Orleans, Louisiana - Roosevelt UniversityRoosevelt UniversityRoosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
, Chicago, Illinois - Cumberland Valley Art Gallery, London, Kentucky