This portrait of President Harry S. Truman by Martha Greta Kempton became his official White House portrait. Kempton was considered an extraordinary portrait artist whose work was in high demand. Photo provided by Darla McCammon.

By DeeAnna Muraski
and Darla McCammon
Guest Columnists

WARSAW — Martha Greta Kempton was born on March 22, 1901, in Vienna. She studied art while overseas but emigrated to the United States after she turned 20. She became a student at the National Academy of Design in New York City. At age 30, she also trained at the Art Students League. She held citizenship in Austria, Hungary and the United States.

Kempton’s work was so striking that within a few years, she had moved to California and was acknowledged as an extraordinary portrait artist. Art critics compared her work and ability to great artists such as Rubens, Rembrandt and other prominent master artists. Celebrities such as the Nordstrom sisters, many politically important persons in Washington, D.C., and Hollywood celebrities clamored to have their portraits created by Kempton. Her reputation continued to grow and a long list of her works drew even more notice of her ability, particularly the number of portraits she could provide for those in the Truman administration.

She painted a portrait of the president’s wife, Bess Truman. Once it was completed, she was quickly commissioned to paint President Harry Truman himself. He ultimately posed for five portraits she created of him and in 1947 the portrait he chose (photo provided) became the official White House portrait of President Truman.

You can find work by Kempton at Church of the Transfiguration in New York City. Also you can find her work in collections in the White House, the Department of the Treasury, the Supreme Court, the Harry S. Truman Library, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, the National Portrait Gallery in the Smithsonian, and a number of museums. There is also a collection of her papers, which include many of her portraits at the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Mo.

Greta Kempton actively painted in her 80s but died in New York City from heart failure in December 1991.

Next week: Another top 10 artist.

Events

Lakeland Art Association: The group will be hosting a fun, relaxing, easy beginning Zentangle class. Come see what it is all about. It will run from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, and cost $45. Sign up at Lakeland Art Association.

Warsaw City Hall: The Sam Hoffman exhibit continues until Wednesday, Sept. 27. To have your work considered for exhibit, contact the curator at [email protected]. Exhibiting is free, and you retain all money for artwork sold.

Darla McCammon is an artist, columnist and author, and DeeAnna Muraski is executive director of Operation Read USA Inc. For information, call (574) 527-4044 or send an email to [email protected].