Elizabeth Simon Phelan
- BORN
-
December 9, 1896
Saint Louis, Missouri
- DIED
-
October 13, 1987
Saint Louis, Missouri
- EDUCATION
-
Art Students League of New York
New York, New YorkSt. Louis School of Fine Arts, Washington University
Saint Louis, MissouriMary Institute
Saint Louis, Missouri
Elizabeth Simon Phelan was born on December 9, 1896, in St. Louis, Missouri. She spent part of her childhood in Mexico and England. In England, she attended the Roedean School, and in St. Louis attended Mary Institute. She also studied in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
She was a self-taught sculptor and made sculptures using a variety of materials, including marble, alabaster, sponge glass, limestone and wood. Phelan began carving in wood and stone in 1940. In 1965, she started making sailboats out of found objects such as wood, fabric and twine.
She was a member of the St. Louis Artists’ Guild and The Missourians. She was one of eighteen sculptors in the St. Louis area who organized the opening of the Sculptors Gallery in 1963, which hosted a wide variety of sculptures from artists from the surrounding area. She also exhibited her work in numerous exhibitions in St. Louis. The last exhibition of her work was displayed at the Climatron at the Missouri Botanical Garden in 1975.
She also completed commissions for churches in St. Louis, such as the sculpture Christus Rex at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, made in 1960, and Noah’s Ark, a wall mural for the McKnight School in University City, made in 1956.
Elizabeth Phelan died on October 13, 1987, in St. Louis.
Elizabeth Phelan Solo Sculpture Exhibition
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Missouri Exhibition
Organized by City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
National Academy of Design Exhibition
Organized by National Academy of Design
Organized by National Academy of Design
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Springfield Art Museum Exhibition
Organized by Springfield Art Museum
Organized by Springfield Art Museum
Missouri Exhibition
Organized by City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
St. Louis County Art Fair
Organized by St. Louis County Art Fair
Organized by St. Louis County Art Fair
Missouri Show, City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
Missouri Exhibition
Organized by City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
Joslyn Art Museum Exhibition
Organized by Joslyn Art Museum
Organized by Joslyn Art Museum
Missourians Exhibition
Organized by The Missourians
Organized by The Missourians
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Bernoudy Architectural Office Exhibition
Organized by Bernoudy Architectural Office
Organized by Bernoudy Architectural Office
Missouri Show, City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
People's Art Center Sculpture Exhibition
Organized by People's Art Center
Organized by People's Art Center
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Missourians Exhibition
Organized by The Missourians
Organized by The Missourians
Art Mart Exhibition
Organized by Art Mart
Organized by Art Mart
People's Art Center Sculpture Exhibition
Organized by People's Art Center
Organized by People's Art Center
Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
People's Art Center Sculpture Exhibition
Organized by People's Art Center
Organized by People's Art Center
Missourians Exhibition
Organized by The Missourians, City Art Museum
Organized by The Missourians, City Art Museum
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Art Mart Exhibition
Organized by Art Mart
Organized by Art Mart
Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Metropolitan Church Federation Exhibition
Organized by Metropolitan Church Federation
Organized by Metropolitan Church Federation
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Missourians Exhibition
Organized by The Missourians, St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by The Missourians, St. Louis Artists' Guild
Art Mart Exhibition
Organized by Art Mart
Organized by Art Mart
Missourians Exhibition
Organized by The Missourians
Organized by The Missourians
John Burroughs School Exhibition
Organized by John Burroughs School
Organized by John Burroughs School
People's Art Center Sculpture Exhibition
Organized by People's Art Center
Organized by People's Art Center
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Elizabeth Phelan and Emily Ann Cramer Joint Exhibition
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
John Burroughs School Exhibition
Organized by John Burroughs School
Organized by John Burroughs School
St. Paul School of Theology Exhibition
Organized by St. Paul School of Theology
Organized by St. Paul School of Theology
St. Louis Art League Heritage Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Art League
Organized by St. Louis Art League
Elizabeth Phelan and Ann Scott Joint Exhibition
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Elizabeth Phelan Boat Show Solo Exhibition
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Elizabeth Phelan and Nicholas Corea Joint Exhibition
Organized by Martin Schweig Gallery
Organized by Martin Schweig Gallery
Elizabeth Phelan Climatron Solo Exhibition
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Award, Missouri Exhibition
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, People’s Art Center Sculpture Show Exhibition
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, Missouri Show, City Art Museum
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Award, Missouri Show, City Art Museum
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, Metropolitan Church Federation Exhibition
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Awards & Exhibitions 56
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Missouri Exhibition
Organized by City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
National Academy of Design Exhibition
Organized by National Academy of Design
Organized by National Academy of Design
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Springfield Art Museum Exhibition
Organized by Springfield Art Museum
Organized by Springfield Art Museum
Missouri Exhibition
Organized by City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
St. Louis County Art Fair
Organized by St. Louis County Art Fair
Organized by St. Louis County Art Fair
Missouri Show, City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
Missouri Exhibition
Organized by City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
Joslyn Art Museum Exhibition
Organized by Joslyn Art Museum
Organized by Joslyn Art Museum
Missourians Exhibition
Organized by The Missourians
Organized by The Missourians
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Bernoudy Architectural Office Exhibition
Organized by Bernoudy Architectural Office
Organized by Bernoudy Architectural Office
Missouri Show, City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
Organized by City Art Museum
People's Art Center Sculpture Exhibition
Organized by People's Art Center
Organized by People's Art Center
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Missourians Exhibition
Organized by The Missourians
Organized by The Missourians
Art Mart Exhibition
Organized by Art Mart
Organized by Art Mart
People's Art Center Sculpture Exhibition
Organized by People's Art Center
Organized by People's Art Center
Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
People's Art Center Sculpture Exhibition
Organized by People's Art Center
Organized by People's Art Center
Missourians Exhibition
Organized by The Missourians, City Art Museum
Organized by The Missourians, City Art Museum
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Art Mart Exhibition
Organized by Art Mart
Organized by Art Mart
Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Organized by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Metropolitan Church Federation Exhibition
Organized by Metropolitan Church Federation
Organized by Metropolitan Church Federation
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Missourians Exhibition
Organized by The Missourians, St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by The Missourians, St. Louis Artists' Guild
Art Mart Exhibition
Organized by Art Mart
Organized by Art Mart
Missourians Exhibition
Organized by The Missourians
Organized by The Missourians
John Burroughs School Exhibition
Organized by John Burroughs School
Organized by John Burroughs School
People's Art Center Sculpture Exhibition
Organized by People's Art Center
Organized by People's Art Center
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Elizabeth Phelan and Emily Ann Cramer Joint Exhibition
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
Organized by St. Louis Artists' Guild
John Burroughs School Exhibition
Organized by John Burroughs School
Organized by John Burroughs School
St. Paul School of Theology Exhibition
Organized by St. Paul School of Theology
Organized by St. Paul School of Theology
St. Louis Art League Heritage Exhibition
Organized by St. Louis Art League
Organized by St. Louis Art League
Elizabeth Phelan and Ann Scott Joint Exhibition
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Elizabeth Phelan Boat Show Solo Exhibition
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Elizabeth Phelan and Nicholas Corea Joint Exhibition
Organized by Martin Schweig Gallery
Organized by Martin Schweig Gallery
Elizabeth Phelan Climatron Solo Exhibition
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Elizabeth Phelan Solo Sculpture Exhibition
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Organized by Sculptors Gallery
Award, Missouri Exhibition
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, People’s Art Center Sculpture Show Exhibition
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, Missouri Show, City Art Museum
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, Mid-America Annual Exhibition
Award, Missouri Show, City Art Museum
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Award, Metropolitan Church Federation Exhibition
Award, St. Louis Artists' Guild Exhibition
Relationships2
Relationships2
References
Artist clippings file is available at:
“Elizabeth S. Phelan: Artist File,” St. Louis Public Library, Saint Louis, Missouri.
Bibliography
Select Sources
Sam Blain, “Research on Missouri Artists,” five binders of documented Missouri artists.
“Phelan, Elizabeth” in Peter Hastings Falk, The Annual Exhibition Record of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, (Madison: Sound View Press, 1989), 368.
“Elizabeth Simon Phelan, 90, Longtime Artist and Sculptor,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 14, 1987.
“Phelan, Elizabeth Simon,” in Glenn B. Optiz, Dictionary of American Sculptors: “18th Century to the Present,” (Poughkeepsie: Apollo, 1984), 312.
“Builds Unrealistic Boats of Found Objects for Fun,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 8, 1965.
“Missouri Cultural Exhibit Features Missouri Artists and Missouri History at New York World’s Fair,” Missouri Historical Review, 58, no. 4 (July 1964): 481-482.
“Sculptors Opening Gallery,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 7, 1963, 5F.
“Elizabeth Phelan to Demonstrate Sculpture at Mon. Club Meeting,” The News-Times (Webster-Groves, Missouri), January 28, 1960, 2.
“Artist Plan Exhibit,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 19, 1957, 11.
“Barrish Oil Wins First Prize for Religious Art,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, February 26, 1957, 4.
“Phelan-Winfield Art Exhibit Opens,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 30, 1955.
“Sculpture, Watercolors and Oils Put on Display,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 13, 1952, 13.
Harry R. Burke, “Wide Variety of Art on View at Museum’s Missouri Show,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 7, 1948, 12A.
Core Reference Sources
askART (database), askART, https://www.askart.com/.
Anita Jacobsen, Jacobsen's Biographical Index of American Artists (Carrollton: A.J. Publications, 2002).
Peter H. Falk, et. al, Who was Who in American Art, 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America (Madison: Sound View Press, 1999).
Contributors
Roberta Wagener, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Artist Record Published
Published on March 4, 2022
Learn more
References
Artist clippings file is available at:
“Elizabeth S. Phelan: Artist File,” St. Louis Public Library, Saint Louis, Missouri.
Artist’s work in these institutions’ collections
St. Louis Public Library
Bibliography
Select Sources
Sam Blain, “Research on Missouri Artists,” five binders of documented Missouri artists.
“Phelan, Elizabeth” in Peter Hastings Falk, The Annual Exhibition Record of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, (Madison: Sound View Press, 1989), 368.
“Elizabeth Simon Phelan, 90, Longtime Artist and Sculptor,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 14, 1987.
“Phelan, Elizabeth Simon,” in Glenn B. Optiz, Dictionary of American Sculptors: “18th Century to the Present,” (Poughkeepsie: Apollo, 1984), 312.
“Builds Unrealistic Boats of Found Objects for Fun,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 8, 1965.
“Missouri Cultural Exhibit Features Missouri Artists and Missouri History at New York World’s Fair,” Missouri Historical Review, 58, no. 4 (July 1964): 481-482.
“Sculptors Opening Gallery,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 7, 1963, 5F.
“Elizabeth Phelan to Demonstrate Sculpture at Mon. Club Meeting,” The News-Times (Webster-Groves, Missouri), January 28, 1960, 2.
“Artist Plan Exhibit,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 19, 1957, 11.
“Barrish Oil Wins First Prize for Religious Art,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, February 26, 1957, 4.
“Phelan-Winfield Art Exhibit Opens,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 30, 1955.
“Sculpture, Watercolors and Oils Put on Display,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 13, 1952, 13.
Harry R. Burke, “Wide Variety of Art on View at Museum’s Missouri Show,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 7, 1948, 12A.
Core Reference Sources
askART (database), askART, https://www.askart.com/.
Anita Jacobsen, Jacobsen's Biographical Index of American Artists (Carrollton: A.J. Publications, 2002).
Peter H. Falk, et. al, Who was Who in American Art, 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America (Madison: Sound View Press, 1999).
Contributors
Roberta Wagener, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Artist Record Published
Published on March 4, 2022
Updated on None
