Badass Women of Niagara

Polly King

Perhaps no American artist so completely epitomizes art in the 20th century as Polly King. Born at the turn of the century in Wheeling, West Virginia, she painted and sketched through every decade until her death in 1993 at the age of 93. Schooled at Carnegie Tech, The American Academy of Design, Cooper Union and the Arts Student League, she embraced many styles through her 93 years, from classicism to impressionism to abstract. Her works, perhaps more than any other artist, completely covered the fabric and texture of the 20th century. For nine decades, Polly King painted the world around her, from her birthplace in Wheeling to her adopted home in Niagara Falls to the four corners of the earth. She was an indefatigable traveler, throughout America, Europe and the Middle East. And wherever she went, her sketchbook, easel, pens and paints went with her. She left a legacy of images of the world that is unmatched. From the ruins of ancient Greece to the construction of the huge plants that harnessed the power of Niagara, from Cezanne’s studio to her backyard garden, from the minarets of Istanbul to the mountains of Charleston, she painted it all, with an unfailing eye for beauty and color of her surroundings.


Polly King traveled the world, principally in North America (mainly the US and Canada), Europe (mainly Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and Greece), and the Middle East (mainly Israel). She painted extensively in both major cities and beautiful locations in the countryside. And of course, Niagara Falls, her home for most of her adult life, was a constant source of inspiration. Her portrait collection consists of over 400 people from all over the world, utilizing watercolors, oils and pastels.


More than 4,000 of her original works are housed at the Polly King Studio in Niagara Falls. Learn more at https://bit.ly/36elLse. 

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Perhaps no American artist so completely epitomizes art in the 20th century as Polly King. Born at the turn of the century in Wheeling, West Virginia, she painted and sketched through every decade until her death in 1993 at the age of 93. Schooled at Carnegie Tech, The American Academy of Design, Cooper Union and the Arts Student League, she embraced many styles through her 93 years, from classicism to impressionism to abstract. Her works, perhaps more than any other artist, completely covered the fabric and texture of the 20th century. For nine decades, Polly King painted the world around her, from her birthplace in Wheeling to her adopted home in Niagara Falls to the four corners of the earth. She was an indefatigable traveler, throughout America, Europe and the Middle East. And wherever she went, her sketchbook, easel, pens and paints went with her. She left a legacy of images of the world that is unmatched. From the ruins of ancient Greece to the construction of the huge plants that harnessed the power of Niagara, from Cezanne’s studio to her backyard garden, from the minarets of Istanbul to the mountains of Charleston, she painted it all, with an unfailing eye for beauty and color of her surroundings.
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