Biografie von Olive RUSH (1873-1966)

Birth place: Fairmount, IN

Death place: Santa Fe, NM

Addresses: Wilmington, DE, 1908, 1912; Germantown, PA, 1910; Boston, MA, 1913; NYC, 1917-18;Santa Fe, NM, 1920

Profession: Painter, illustrator, portraitist, muralist

Studied: Corcoran School Art; ASL with Twachtman, Mowbray; Howard Pyle School; Paris, with R. Miller.

Exhibited: PAFA Ann., 1908-18 (6 times); Corcoran Gal biennials, 1912, 1923, 1935; AIC, 16 annuals, 1910-49; NAD, four annuals, 1911-16; CI; Mus. New Mexico; Soc. of Independent Artists, 1917, 1924, 1928-30; Richmond AA, 1919; Herron AI, 1919 (prize); Sesqui-Cent. Int. Expo, Phila., 1926; Hoosier Salon, 1931 (prize); Denver AA (prize), 1931; Nebraska AA (prize); Wilmington SFA (prize); MMA; BMFA; NAWA, annuals.

Member: NAWA

Work: WMA; BM; PMG; John Herron AI; Mus. New Mexico; FA Center of Houston; Wilmington Soc. FA; Witte Mem. Mus.; Nebraska AA; murals, La Fonda Hotel & Pub. Lib., Santa Fe, NM; WPA murals, A&M College of New Mexico; WPA murals, USPO, Florence, CO and Pawhuska, OK.

Comments: She made her first trip to Santa Fe in 1914 and became a permanent resident in c.1920. Rush painted in different styles during her career. She established a reputation as an illustrator and was a respected muralist. Illustrator: covers for Ladies' Home Journal, and illustrations for Collier's; Scribner's, other magazines. Specialties: women, children; frescos.

Sources: WW59; WW47; Gerdts, Art Across America, vol. 2: 271-72; P&H Samuels, 411; Trenton, ed. Independent Spirits, 158; Falk, Exh. Record Series.