In Celebration details the life and art of Ruth Grotenrath (1912–88), an American artist whose work spanned the middle fifty years of the twentieth century. Tracing Grotenrath’s influences and methods of working—from her earliest American Regionalist paintings and WPA murals to the colorful still lifes that captured the imagination of her many fans and patrons—Susan Montgomery depicts the artist’s unique perceptions of her intimate environment and her efforts to reflect the vibrant beauty of the world around her. Her best-known works are sensual, bountiful floral still lifes. In Celebration documents Grotenrath’s rich personal and professional life with her husband and fellow artist, Schomer Lichtner, through interviews, photographs, and newspaper articles. The pair, who became heralded as Milwaukee’s “first couple of art,” supported themselves as artists throughout their lives, even during the Depression and World War II. In the 1960s, Grotenrath traveled to Japan and studied Asian art, which influenced her work for the rest of her life. Grotenrath’s work is represented in the collections of many museums throughout the United States, primarily in Wisconsin and the Midwest.

In Celebration: The Life and Art of Ruth Grotenrath

Arts & Photography

Montgomery, Susan J.

History & Criticism

Museum of Wisconsin Art

In the Moment is a visual account of the life and art of Schomer Lichtner (1905–2006), a much-celebrated artist working in the American Midwest. Susan Montgomery draws on archival materials and interviews with Lichtner and others to trace the development of his long and productive career, which began in the first decade of the twentieth century and continued until his death at the age of 101. The 350 images in this book span more than seventy-five years of artwork, including paintings, sculptures, theatrical sets, greeting cards, and drawings. As early as 1930, Lichtner’s work was shown at the prestigious Carnegie International Exhibition in New York and at museums throughout the United States, especially in the Midwest. During the Depression years, Lichtner and his wife, Ruth Grotenrath, were employed by the Treasury Relief Art Project, a program of the federal government’s WPA, for which they created impressive murals in the American Regionalist style for post offices and other government buildings throughout the Midwest. Lichtner and Grotenrath made their home in Milwaukee, where they were active and much beloved members of the arts community. Lichtner’s mid-career and late work focused on recurring themes of abstract rural landscapes, whimsical cows, and elegant women, including graceful nudes and leaping ballerinas. Lichtner’s work was profoundly influenced by his appreciation of Frank Lloyd Wright (whom he knew personally), Zen Buddhism, and Japanese art. His unique approach, beautifully depicted in this book, was joyous, free flowing, colorful, imaginative, and marked by strong design and pattern.

In the Moment: The Life and Art of Schomer Lichtner

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Books by Museum of Wisconsin Art

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Museum of Wisconsin Art publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

In Celebration: The Life and Art of Ruth Grotenrath

In the Moment: The Life and Art of Schomer Lichtner