Stella Rebecca Crofts facts for kids

Stella Rebecca Crofts was a talented British artist. She was born on January 9, 1898, and lived until 1964. Stella created many different types of art, including paintings, sculptures, and pottery. She had a very busy career making beautiful artworks.

About Stella Crofts

Stella was born in Nottingham, England. She grew up in a place called Ilford in Essex. When she was a child, Stella was often sick. Because of this, she mostly learned at home.

Her Art Education

Later, Stella went to art school. From 1916 to 1922, she studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. After that, she spent a year at the Royal College of Art. There, she learned how to make pottery and sculptures.

Starting Her Career

After finishing her studies, Stella went back to Essex. She built her own art studio. It even had a special oven called a kiln for firing pottery. Stella's art was shown for the first time at the Royal Academy in 1925. This was a big step for her!

Her artworks were also shown in other countries. People saw her art in Venice, Milan, and Toronto. In Paris, Stella won a silver medal at the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs in 1925. This award showed how talented she was.

Joining Art Groups

Stella became an Associate of the Society of Women Artists in 1924. This means she was recognized by the group. The next year, in 1925, she became a full member. During her career, she showed more than 200 artworks at the Society's exhibitions.

She continued to show her art at the Royal Academy. In 1926, she had her own special show at the Redfern Gallery. Stella also showed her work with the Women's International Art Club. She was also chosen to be an associate of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers.

What Stella Created

During her career, Stella Crofts often painted and sculpted many different animals. She especially loved birds! But she also painted pictures of people. She would create models of animal groups. Then, she would glaze and fire them in her own kiln. She used different methods to make small statues, raised art pieces (reliefs), and pottery items.

You can find examples of Stella's art in many museums. These include the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Nottingham Castle Museum, the Manchester City Art Gallery, and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent. Her art is even in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Milan, Italy.