Paige Rense facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paige Rense
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Rense in her office in 1976
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| Born |
Patty Lou Pashong
May 4, 1929 Des Moines, Iowa, US
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| Died | January 1, 2021 (aged 91) |
| Occupation | Writer and editor |
| Known for | Editor of Architectural Digest, 1975–2010 |
| Spouse(s) | Richard F. Gardner (m.1950) David Thomas (m.?–1956) Arthur F. Rense (m.1958–1974 and 1987–1990) Kenneth Noland (m.1994–2010) |
Paige Rense, also known as Paige Rense Noland, was an American writer and editor. She was born on May 4, 1929, and passed away on January 1, 2021. Paige Rense was most famous for being the editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest magazine. She held this important role from 1975 until 2010.
Rense also helped create the Arthur Rense Prize, an award for poetry. She changed the cooking magazine Bon Appétit into its modern style. She was also the editor-in-chief of GEO magazine. In 1997, she wrote a mystery novel called Manor House.
Contents
Early Life & Moving to California
Paige Rense was born on May 4, 1929. Her birth name was Patty Lou Pashong. She was adopted as a baby by Lloyd R. Pashong and Margaret May Smith. Her father worked as a custodian for public schools in Des Moines, Iowa. She started using the name Paige when she was a teenager.
In the early 1940s, Paige and her parents moved from Iowa to Los Angeles, California. When she was 15, she left home and started working. She worked as an usherette in movie theaters.
Paige Rense's Career in Journalism
Paige Rense did not finish high school. She began her career in journalism in the mid-1950s. She worked on the editorial team for Water World, a magazine about skin-diving. Later, she wrote a beauty book and a novel. She also wrote articles for magazines like Cosmopolitan. She gained experience in publicity and advertising too.
Leading Architectural Digest
In October 1970, Rense became an associate editor at Architectural Digest. Six months later, she became the head of the magazine. In 1975, she was officially named editor-in-chief. She kept this job until 2010.
Under her leadership, Architectural Digest grew a lot. It started in 1920 as a magazine for people in the design business. Rense turned it into a "bible for the design world." The magazine's circulation, or number of copies sold, grew from 50,000 to over 850,000 during her time.
As editor-in-chief, she focused on showcasing the work of architects and interior designers. She also featured the homes of famous people. She hired well-known writers and award-winning photographers. This helped the magazine become famous around the world. When Condé Nast bought the magazine in 1993, they made sure Rense would stay as editor-in-chief.
Later Writings
When she retired, Rense was working on a book. This book was about the career of her late husband, Kenneth Noland. He was a famous color field artist.
In October 2018, Rense wrote Architectural Digest: Autobiography of a Magazine 1920–2010. This book tells the story of Architectural Digest during her many years as editor.
Awards and Recognitions
Paige Rense received several important awards for her work:
- The Museum of Arts & Design Achievement Award (2006)
- The American Academy of Achievement Award (2000)
- The Pratt Institute Founder Awards (1997)
- The Interior Design Hall of Fame Award (1985)
Paige Rense's Personal Life
Paige Rense was married four times. Her first marriage was to Richard F. Gardner in 1950. She later married David Thomas.
Her third marriage was to Arthur F. Rense (1916–1990). He was a sports journalist and worked for Howard Hughes's Summa Corporation. They were married twice: first from 1958 to 1974, and again from 1987 until Arthur Rense's death in 1990. In 1998, Paige Rense created the Arthur Rense Prize in poetry. This award honors her late husband, who was an amateur poet. The American Academy of Arts and Letters gives out this prize every three years.
In 1994, she married Kenneth Noland (1924–2010), a painter.
Paige Rense passed away on January 1, 2021, due to heart disease.
Images for kids
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Rense in her office in 1976
See also
In Spanish: Paige Rense para niños
