Rose Van Vranken Mother and Child Bronze Sculpture circa 1950s

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Expressive sculpture of a mother holding an infant by Rose Van Vranken (American, 1918-2013). Signed and numbered "VAN VRANKEN 5/6" … Read more Expressive sculpture of a mother holding an infant by Rose Van Vranken (American, 1918-2013). Signed and numbered "VAN VRANKEN 5/6" on the back of the pedestal. 14.5"H x 5.5"W x 8"D.

Rose Van Vranken (American, 1918-2013) was born in Passaic, New Jersey on May 15, 1918. Raised in southern California, Van Vranken grew up in Pasadena. After graduating from Pasadena Junior College, she won an art scholarship to Pomona College (1936-38), and then studied at the California School of Fine Arts and Art Students League in New York City. She also studied with William Zorach and Robert Laurent, and at New York University's Graduate Institute of Fine Art as an Art History student. In 1942 she married Robert Hickey and moved to Iowa City, Iowa. She died in Madison, Wisconsin on June 17, 2013.

Member:
Salmagundi Club (NYC)
Texas Society of Sculptors
National Association of Women Artists
Wisconsin Painters and Sculptors

Exhibited:
Pasadena Art Institute, 1943-46;
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1944 (First prize);
Oakland Art Gallery, 1944-46;
San Diego FA Society, 1945;
National Academy of Design, 1947, 1952;
Iowa Artists (Des Moines, 1953.

Awards:
1st prize, Sculpture: Los Angeles County Museum
1st prizes: Des Moines Art Center
Bronze medals (2), Sculpture: Oakland Art Center
Awards, Graphics and Sculpture: Walker Art Center, Joslyn Museum
Medal of Honor, Graphics: National Association of Women Artists
Medal of Honor, Sculpture: Academic Artists Association, Springfield, MA

Works held:
Olbrich Gardens (Madison)
Additional biography from the Salmagundi Club:
The sculptures of Rose Van Vranken are primarily based on nature-plants, sea forms, animals, rocks and people. The semi-abstract forms are designed to capture the basic spirit or essence of the subject and are influenced by early Greek, Chinese and Egyptian Art. The fundamental technique is direct carving in stone or wood. Bronze castings are made from these carvings. Besides the carvings, Van Vranken has experimented with other material and has made castings in handmade paper, polyester resin and fiberglass, and has combined techniques of carving and modeling together.

Many of Van Vranken's sculptures - both realist and abstract - have been designed by fragmenting a large sculpture into other shapes and sizes to create new images.

The sculpture and graphics of Rose Van Vranken have been exhibited throughout the United States in many major national and regional shows and have won many awards. Etchings were selected for a touring exhibition in Europe by the National Association of Women Artists and were shown in the Stedelijke Museum in Amsterdam and in five other museums. The U.S. State Department has included Van Vranken Sculpture in its Art in Embassies Program.

Recent awards have included a "Life Time Achievement Award" from "Sculptors Dominion" based in San Antonio and an honor award from Salmagundi Club for being a member for 25 years. Since joining Salmagundi in 1979 Van Vranken has won over 30 Salmagundi Awards.

Significant Collections: Coventry Cathedral, Coventry England; St. Cyril of Alexandria Church, Houston; Museum of Fine Arts, University of Iowa; Des Moines Art Center, Iowa; Mitchell Energy Corporation, Houston; John Whitney Payson Family collection, New York City; Laguna Gloria Museum, Austin, Texas; Robert Mosbacher, Houston; Walter Sterling, Houston; Dr. and Mrs. John Benfield, Los Angeles; Walter Ross Collection, Palm Beach, Florida; Jacquelyn Mitchard, Madison, Wisconsin; Attorney Mark W. Smith, Austin, Texas; Dr. Atef Daniel, Geneva, Switzerland; Texas Commerce Bank, Houston; M.D, Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Samuel Barker Collection, Birmingham, Alabama; Finial Investment Corporation, Houston; Crowne Plaza Hotels, Houston; Maryville Academy, Chicago; Biblical Art Center Museum, Dallas; University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio; Texas Investment Bank, Houston; Pomona College, Claremont, California; Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts; Brand Library, Glendale, California; Salmagundi Club Collection, New York City; Houston Baptist University, Houston; McAllen International Museum, McAllen, Texas.


Memberships:
National Association of Women Artists, New York
Salmagundi Club, New York
Texas Society of Sculptors
Artists Equity, New York
International Sculptors Center
Wisconsin Painters and Sculptors, Inc. Listings:
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Who's Who of American Women
The World's Who's Who of Women
International Who's Who in Art and Antiques
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