Beulah Woodard facts for kids

Beulah Ecton Woodard (November 11, 1895 – July 13, 1955) was an African-American sculptor and painter. She lived and worked in California. Woodard was the first African American artist to have her own art show at the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science and Art.

About Beulah Woodard's Early Life

Beulah Ecton was born in Frankfort, Ohio, on November 11, 1895. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. William P. Ecton. Her father was a veteran from the Civil War. When she was 12, an African visitor came to her family's home. This visit sparked her lifelong interest in African culture.

Later, her family moved to California. They settled near Los Angeles in an area that is now Vernon. Beulah went to Los Angeles Polytechnic High School. There, she studied architectural drawing, which is like designing buildings. After high school, she worked as a maid for many years. She did this until she was in her thirties.

How Beulah Woodard Became an Artist

Beulah Woodard started working with clay when she was in her early 30s. At first, her family did not want her to pursue art. But in 1928, she married Brady Woodard. After that, she took art classes at several schools. These included the Otis Art Institute, the Los Angeles Art School, and the University of Southern California.

She learned from famous teachers like Glen Lukens. She also studied with Peter David Edstrom, who helped start the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Even a Russian prince, Paul Troubetzkoy, was one of her teachers.

Beulah Woodard's Artistic Career

Beulah Woodard had her first art show in February 1935. Her sculptures were displayed in the window of the California News weekly newspaper. Her art was also shown at the Vernon Branch Library and the Los Angeles Central Library.

In 1937, she made history. She was the first African-American artist to have a solo show at the Los Angeles County Museum. Her exhibition lasted for eight weeks. It featured clay and papier-mâché masks. These masks were decorated with beads and feathers. They were based on her research into different cultures.

Many people admired her work. A well-known Los Angeles art supporter, Miriam Matthews, collected her art. The Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company also bought many of her pieces. Matthews even organized another show of Woodard's art at the Los Angeles Public Library.

Her Sculptures and Community Work

Woodard used many different materials for her sculptures. These included bronze, wood, terracotta (a type of clay), and papier-mâché. She often copied the braided hairstyles, jewelry, and headwear of African groups. Some of these groups were the Ekoi, Luba, Hemba, and Mangbetu peoples.

One of her famous terracotta sculptures is called Maudelle. She made it around 1937–38. It is a very realistic picture of the African-American dancer Maudelle Bass Weston. Woodard created this sculpture without using models or drawings.

Beulah Woodard was also very active in her community. She gave talks at many schools and colleges. She was part of a women's book club called Our Authors Study Circle. This group helped get Los Angeles' first Negro History Week started. In 1937, she helped create the Los Angeles Negro Art Association. In 1950, she opened the Eleven Associated Artist Gallery. This gallery was a co-op for artists. It included African American artists like Alice Taylor Gafford and William Pajaud. It also featured Chinese American artist Tyrus Wong.

In 1953, she won third place at the All-City Art Festival. Beulah Woodard passed away on July 13, 1955, when she was 59 years old. Her art was shown in Germany in several exhibitions after her death.

See also

• List of African-American visual artists
• List of 20th-century women artists

Images for kids

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  Mask of an African medicine man

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  Mask of Haile Selassie