Garden Party: Outdoor Sculptures by Dorothy Gillespie

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art is pleased to present its reinvigorated sculpture court with the opening of Garden Party: Outdoor Sculptures by Dorothy Gillespie.

Dorothy Gillespie was a pioneer for women in the arts. In her impressive career of over 70 years, she was an activist, lecturer, and mentor to creative women throughout the world. Twenty years before her famous exhibitions at Walt Disney World and Rockefeller Center, Gillespie had a city-wide exhibition in Fort Wayne in 1979, which helped launch her career. This exhibition honors that instrumental exhibition, showcasing a dazzling array of outdoor sculptures.

Among her many honors, Gillespie received a Doctor of Pedagogy, Niagara University, Niagara Falls, NY 1990; a Doctor of Fine Arts (Honoris Causa) Caldwell College, Caldwell, NY 1976; a Distinguished Alumni Award, Maryland Institute, College of Art, Baltimore, MD 1983; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women’s Caucus for Art in 2001. Her work can be found at renowned institutions including the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Guggenheim.

This exhibition is curated by Jenna Gilley, Associate Curator of Exhibitions, and made possible by loans from the Dorothy M. Gillespie Foundation.