Nellie Geraldine Best facts for kids

Nellie Geraldine Best (born May 22, 1905 – died June 2, 1990) was a talented American artist. She was famous for her sculptures, paintings, and large wall murals. Nellie Best created art in places like Oregon, California, and Minneapolis. She was active as an artist from the 1930s to the 1950s.

About Nellie Best

Nellie Geraldine Best was born in Sterling, Washington on May 22, 1905. She loved art and went to the University of Oregon. There, she earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1929 and a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in 1930.

Her Amazing Murals

Nellie Best was very good at painting murals. Murals are big paintings done directly on a wall. She even won an honorable mention in a national contest for her mural. This special award was for a mural she painted in the Social Security Administration building in Washington, D.C.

In 1940, Nellie painted a mural called Early Voyageurs at Portage. This artwork was part of a special government program called the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project. This project helped artists find work during tough economic times. Her mural was placed in the post office in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Sadly, this mural was taken down in the 1970s and is now lost.

Nellie Best also painted two very long murals in 1942. Each one was 16 feet long! These oil paintings were for the post office in Ontario, California. One mural was called The Dream. It showed George Chaffey, who founded the city, with people surveying the land. The second mural was named The Reality. It showed a view of the city after it was built, focusing on Euclid Avenue.

Later Life and Teaching

In the 1960s, Nellie Best shared her artistic skills with others. She taught art classes in Oregon. Nellie Best passed away on June 2, 1990, in Eugene, Oregon.