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Ruth Sigrid Grafstrom

BiographyRuth Grafstom was born in Rock Island, Illinois. Her parents were artists, Olof a painter and Anna, a ceramicist. Ruth later studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and at the Colorossi Academy in Paris and in 1924 was elected to the Art Alliance of America.

During the 1920s - early 1940s Ruth became a well-known and highly influential fashion illustrator for a number of magazines, in particular US and UK Vogue. She was also sought after for commercial campaigns for large business such as Matson Lines, Macy's and Saks.

Although primarily a commercial artist, Ruth was influenced by the wider art world around her and her contemporary, modern style was notable for showing women who were seen as 'real' and confident. She was seen as a significant illustrator of the era which was seen as a male dominated industry at the time.

After World War ll Ruth moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and later established a studio home in Florida where she remained for the rest of her life. There, she continued to be active as a painter through the 1960s and 1970s but died in relative obscurity in 1986.

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