June Leaf facts for kids

June Leaf (born August 4, 1929 – died July 1, 2024) was an American artist. She was famous for her unique paintings and drawings. These artworks often showed ideas or stories in an abstract way. She also created cool moving sculptures, called kinetic art. June Leaf lived and worked in New York City and Mabou, Nova Scotia, Canada.

About June Leaf's Life

June Leaf was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 4, 1929. She loved art from a young age.

Early Education and Travel

Between 1947 and 1948, June studied at the Institute of Design in Chicago. This school was once called the New Bauhaus. She took classes with an artist named Hugo Weber.

In 1948, she left school to travel to Paris, France. There, she focused on creating art. She explored how to make abstract shapes and patterns in her work.

Returning to School

June came back to the Institute of Design in 1954. She earned two degrees that year. She got her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art Education from Roosevelt University. She also received her Master of Arts (M.A.) in Art Education from the Institute of Design.

In 1958, June returned to Paris with a special art grant called a Fulbright Grant. When she came back to the U.S. in 1960, she moved to New York City.

Marriage and Later Life

In 1971, June Leaf married Robert Frank. He was a famous filmmaker and photographer.

June Leaf's art was shown in many important places. In 2016, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York held a big show of her work. It was called "June Leaf: Thought Is Infinite." Another show, "June Leaf: A Survey, 1949-Present," happened the same year.

Her artworks are kept in many famous museums. These include the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

June Leaf passed away on July 1, 2024, in Manhattan, New York. She was 94 years old.

Famous Artworks by June Leaf

June Leaf created many interesting pieces. Here are a few examples of her unique art.

Coney Island (1968)

This drawing was made with pen, ink, and colored pencil. It shows a simple scene of a couple looking at a carousel at Coney Island. Unlike some of her other works, it doesn't have strange creatures. But it helps us imagine stepping into a magical world. June Leaf's art often makes us think about life and imagination.

The Girl with the Hoop (1980)

This artwork uses acrylic paint and fiber-tipped pen. It explores how ideas from an artist's mind become real art. June often drew hands and heads together. This showed how her thoughts were "threaded" out through her hands onto the paper. She believed that thoughts could be endless.

Making # 2 (2014–2015)

This is a special kind of sculpture. It uses a sewing machine base, wire, copper, and thread. It has a tiny dancing figure made of wire. When you press the pedal or turn the wheel, the figure vibrates. June made many of these clever moving sculptures. They are like old mechanical toys that seem magical.

Awards and Honors

June Leaf received many awards for her art.

In 1984, she was given an Honorary Doctorate from DePaul University. She also received one from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 1996.

She won the Distinguished Artists Awards from the Canada Council in 1984. In 1989, she received a grant for painting from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).