BIOGRAPHY
Born in 1918, Corita Kent was an artist, educator, and advocate for social justice.
At age 18 she entered the religious order Immaculate Heart of Mary. Known as Sister Mary Corita, she began teaching, eventually becoming the head the art department at Immaculate Heart College.
During the course of her career, Kent's artwork evolved from using figurative and religious imagery to incorporating advertising images and slogans, popular song lyrics, biblical verses, and literature.
Throughout the ‘60s, her work became increasingly political, urging viewers to consider poverty, racism, and social injustice.
In 1966, The Los Angeles Times named Sister Mary Corita one of their nine Women of the Year. The following year, she was profiled on the Christmas cover of Newsweek Magazine in their feature story titled "The Nun: Going Modern." By 1968, Kent left the order and moved to Boston.
In 1966, The Los Angeles Times named Sister Mary Corita one of their nine Women of the Year. The following year, she was profiled on the Christmas cover of Newsweek Magazine in their feature story titled "The Nun: Going Modern." By 1968, Kent left the order and moved to Boston.
After 1970, Kent's work evolved into a sparser, introspective style, influenced by living in a new environment, a secular life, and her battles with cancer.
In 1983, she received a commission to create a series of billboards for Physicians for Social Responsibility. Titled “we can create life without war," Kent cited the project as "the most religious thing" she had ever done. She remained active in social causes until her death in 1986.
In 1983, she received a commission to create a series of billboards for Physicians for Social Responsibility. Titled “we can create life without war," Kent cited the project as "the most religious thing" she had ever done. She remained active in social causes until her death in 1986.
At the time of her death, she had created almost 800 serigraph editions, thousands of watercolors, and innumerable public and private commissions.
