Artist of the Month: Grant Wood

Grant Wood (see photo below) is a realist painter who is most famous for his painting of the American Midwest, like in American Gothic (see painting below).  During this month and next, students will study him and his artwork.

American Gothic painting by Grant Wood

Photo of Artist Grant Wood (1891-1942)

 
Wood was born in 1891 in Iowa.  His father was a farmer and his mother was a teacher.  After high school, he moved to Minnesota to learn how to work with wood and metal.  The next year, Wood decided to become a teacher.  He studied for his teaching certificate at the University of Iowa.  He also studied architecture and he painted.  In 1916, Wood went to the Art Institute of Chicago to study art.  He taught middle and high school art for six years.  He set up his own studio in Iowa and began painting scenes of the American Midwest.  Grant Wood died in 1942.

For more information about artist Grant Wood, click here.  To watch this funny video about the artist and his most famous painting, click here!