The Life and Artistic Journey of Susan Merrill Ketcham
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 28, 1841, Susan Merrill Ketcham was part of a family with deep roots in the state. Her father, John Lewis Ketcham, was a prominent lawyer, and her mother, Jane Merrill Ketcham, was the daughter of Indiana's first treasurer. Her early education in music and painting was provided by the wife of Bishop Talbott. During a trip to Europe between 1886 and 1888, Ketcham experienced an initial calling to become a painter while in Florence, Italy, and later began her studies in Switzerland.
Ketcham pursued formal training at several institutions, including the Indiana School of Art, the Art Students League of New York, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She also attended the Shinnecock Hills Summer School of Art, studying under teachers such as William Merritt Chase and Charles Herbert Woodbury.
Exhibitions and Contributions to the Arts
In 1883, Ketcham helped found the Art Association of Indianapolis to promote art education. Her work was exhibited at various venues, including the Hoosier Salon, the National Academy of Design, and the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. She was a member of the Society of Independent Artists and the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors.
Her notable works include:
- Portrait of My Mother (originally titled Portrait of a Lady)
- Evening, gifted to Indiana University
- After the Storm, gifted to the John Herron Art Institute
Ketcham lived in New York City for much of her later career, residing near her studio in Carnegie Hall, before returning to Indianapolis in 1927. She passed away on February 1, 1930.
