Corinne Mitchell facts for kids

Corinne Mitchell (1914-1993) was an American painter and educator. She made history as the first African American woman to have her own art show at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

About Corinne Mitchell

Corinne Mitchell was born Corinne Howard on March 10, 1914. She grew up in Baskerville, Virginia, and was one of eighteen children! She loved learning and went to several colleges. She earned a degree from St Paul's College in 1935. Later, she got another degree from Virginia State College in 1951. She even earned a master's degree from George Washington University in 1965.

In 1938, she married William E. Mitchell. They moved to Washington, D.C. in 1956. Corinne Mitchell became a teacher. She taught in Montgomery County Schools until 1982. She was also involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Through this work, she met other artists in Washington, D.C. These included Loïs Mailou Jones, Delilah Pierce, and Alma Thomas.

Her Art Shows

In 1992, the National Museum of Women in the Arts held a special art show. It was called Glimpse of Joy. This was a very important event. It was the museum's first solo show by an African American woman artist. A "solo show" means all the art was made by just one artist.

In 1993, the Charles Sumner School also held a show of her work. This show featured 29 of her paintings. Today, some of her art can be found in The Johnson Collection in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Corinne Mitchell passed away on April 21, 1993, in Washington, D.C. Her art and her teaching continue to inspire many.