The Mood Room · Bessie Potter Vonnoh
Bessie Potter Vonnoh Enter a
feeling, not
a gallery.
Choose a mood and the room itself answers — the light cools or warms, the air changes pace, and only the works that carry that feeling step forward from the dark. Everything else recedes into shadow.
Bessie Potter Vonnoh
Early Life and Education Born: August 17, 1872, St. Louis, Missouri Died: March 8, 1955 Parents: Alexander and Mary McKenney Potter (Ohio natives) Early life marked by the death of her father in 1874. Family moved to Chicago in 1877. Showed an early interest in clay modeling. Studied at the Art Institute of Chicago from 1886, supported by Lorado Taft who hired her as a studio assistant. Completed sculpture courses at th
e Art Institute under Taft (1890-1891). Influences and Artistic Development Lorado Taft: Significant early influence as a teacher and mentor. Auguste Rodin: Met in Paris, influenced her approach to sculpture. "White Rabbits": Part of a group of female artists assisting Taft at the World's Columbian Exposition, fostering collaboration and skill development. Early works focused on plaster portraits and figures, later transitio…
Set the room's
mood
— the light follows
Now showing —
All
· —
works lit