Ruth Grotenrath and Schomer Lichtner: A Vibrant Life in Love and Art

February 7 – June 1, 2014

Wisconsin artists Ruth Grotenrath (1912-1988) and Schomer Lichtner (1905-2006) were celebrated as the preeminent art couple in Milwaukee during the mid-twentieth century. The bold, colorful paintings of their mature careers were inspired by Japanese art and early modernists like Henri Matisse.

In 2009 the Paine received from the Kohler Foundation a major donation of 15 paintings by the couple, including expressive floral still lifes and interiors, lush garden landscapes, and whimsical images of cows and ballerinas. This group of artworks is complemented by a selection of loans from regional collections for the current exhibition.