Fanny Brennan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fanny Brennan
|
|
---|---|
![]() |
|
Born | 1921 Paris, France
|
Died | 2001 (aged 79–80) New York City
|
Nationality | French-American |
Known for | Painting |
Movement | Surrealism |
Fanny Myers Brennan (1921–July 22, 2001) was a talented artist from France and America. She was known for her unique surrealist paintings, which often looked like dreams or imaginary scenes.
Contents
About Fanny Brennan
Fanny Brennan was a French-American artist who created amazing paintings. She was born in Paris, France, in 1921. Her art style is called surrealism, which means it often combines real-world objects in surprising and dream-like ways.
Her Early Life and Art Journey
Fanny Brennan grew up and studied in both the United States and Europe. In 1938, she started attending an art school in France. However, when World War II began, she moved to New York City.
In New York, her art quickly gained attention. In 1941, a gallery run by a famous art dealer named Betty Parsons featured Fanny's work in two shows. She also used her artistic skills working for Harper's Bazaar magazine and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Later, in 1944, she was hired by the Office of War Information to work in Europe.
After having children, Fanny took a break from painting for almost twenty years. She didn't start creating art again until 1970.
Returning to Art and Exhibitions
When Fanny Brennan returned to painting in 1970, her career took off again. Starting in 1973, she had three solo art shows with Betty Parsons' gallery. Later, she also exhibited her work at the Coe Kerr Gallery.
In 1990, a special book was published about her art. It was called Skyshades: Sixty Small Paintings. A well-known writer, Calvin Tomkins, wrote the introduction for the book.
Her Unique Art Style
Fanny Brennan's paintings are very special because they are usually tiny, or miniature. They are often no bigger than six square inches! Despite their small size, her paintings are full of imagination.
She loved to combine everyday objects, like buttons, with big landscapes. Imagine a tiny button becoming part of a huge mountain range! An art critic named Celia McGee once described her paintings. She said that Fanny's art would show "landscapes literally put in a nutshell." She also mentioned a "feather duster is taken to Mount Fuji," and "a spool of ribbon unwinds into a road." This shows how she played with size and gravity in her art, making ordinary things look magical.
A Famous Portrait
Fanny Brennan was also admired by other artists. A very famous sculptor and painter named Alberto Giacometti even drew her portrait.
Fanny Brennan passed away on July 22, 2001, in New York City. Her unique and imaginative miniature paintings continue to inspire people today.