Virginia A. Myers facts for kids

Virginia A. Myers (born May 8, 1927, died December 7, 2015) was an amazing American artist, a university professor, and an inventor. She was born in Greencastle, Indiana. She grew up mostly in Cleveland, Ohio with her parents and younger sister. Her father taught at different colleges and schools there.

Who Was Virginia Myers?

Virginia Myers was a very talented woman who loved art and teaching. She became famous for her unique way of making art prints. She also invented a special machine to help artists create new kinds of art.

Early Life and Education

Virginia Myers studied art at several places. She went to George Washington University and the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C.. In 1949, she earned her first degree in drawing and painting.

After that, she continued her studies. In 1951, she got a master's degree in painting from The California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. She also did more advanced studies at the University of Illinois.

In 1955, Virginia came to the University of Iowa. Here, she learned printmaking from a famous artist named Mauricio Lasansky. Later, from 1961 to 1962, she even studied in Paris, France. She received a special Fulbright Scholarship to learn at a famous art studio called Atelier 17.

A Creative Professor and Inventor

In 1962, Virginia Myers became a professor at the University of Iowa. She taught printmaking in the School of Art and Art History. Printmaking is a way to make multiple copies of an image from a single design.

She taught a type of printmaking called intaglio. She also taught something new called foil imaging. This was possible because she invented a special machine.

What is the Iowa Foil Printer?

Virginia Myers invented a machine called the Iowa Foil Printer. This machine uses a process similar to commercial foil stamping. It allows artists to add shiny foil designs to their prints.

After inventing the press, she worked with students and others. They wanted to make the foil stamping process even better. They also wanted to write down how it worked. Together, they created a book called Foil Imaging...A New Art Form in 2001.

Her Amazing Art Shows

Virginia Myers' art was shown in many places. She had more than 100 solo art shows in the United States and other countries. She also took part in over 150 group shows and traveling exhibitions.

Her artwork is kept in important art collections. These include the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.. Her art is also at the Toledo Museum of Art in Toledo, Ohio. You can also find her work at the Des Moines Art Center in Des Moines, Iowa, and many other places.