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"A thoughtful artist whose taste was always interesting,
and whose support and encouragement of younger artists was absolutely
terrific. I always thought of her not only as a remarkable painter
and wonderful teacher but as a real-life force in the city."
–Anne d'Harnoncourt
Artist Edna Andrade died Thursday, April 17, 2008 at her home
in Philadelphia. A beloved and dynamic figure in the city's
cultural community for more than sixty years, Andrade became
a leading educator and painter known for her optical works.
Born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1917, Andrade grew up in the
rural Tidewater region - a setting fondly remembered by the
artist. Educated in Norfolk and inspired by an elementary school
teacher and graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine
Arts, Andrade herself enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of
the Fine Arts, graduating in 1937 with a joint degree from PAFA
and the University of Pennsylvania.
An artist employed by the Office of Strategic Services during
World War II and supervised by Eero Saarinen, Andrade also taught
art in elementary schools and assisted architects including
her husband, Preston Andrade, before beginning university teaching
in 1957. Long associated with the Philadelphia College of Art
(now the University of the Arts), the artist would lead its
Two-Dimensional and Foundation Programs for twenty-five years
beginning in 1959. The College Art Association bestowed its
Distinguished Teaching of Art Award to Andrade in 1996.
Once established in the teaching profession, Andrade's own work
became known and widely exhibited - beginning with the East
Hampton Gallery in New York City in 1967 and Marian Locks Gallery
in Philadelphia in 1971, which continuously represented her
from that year on. Andrade's work was included in Optical Art
surveys of the 1960s including Art with Optical Reaction,
Des Moines Art Center and The Deceived Eye, Fort Worth
Art Center, both 1965. Retrospectives of the painter's work
were organized by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
in 1993 and the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of
Pennsylvania, 2003. Columbus Museum of Art's major survey of
optical art, The Optic Nerve (2007) included multiple
works by the artist.
The artist's work is in museums collections across the country
including The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Houston Museum
of Fine Arts, The Dallas Museum of Art, the Virginia Museum
of Fine Arts, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The
Baltimore Museum of Art, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Yale University
Art Gallery, Columbus Museum of Art and The Chrysler Museum
of Art.
A memorial service for the artist will be held on Saturday,
June 7th, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, at the Philadelphia Museum of
Art Auditorium. |
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Locks
Gallery 600 Washington Square South Philadelphia
PA 19106 215.629.1000 215.629.3868
fax |
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