1902-1986
Theme/Style – Modernism, figurative art
Media – Sculpture, oils, watercolors, pastels
Artistic Focus – One of California’s most important woman sculptors, Ruth Cravath created works that are recognized for their sense of proportion, direct simplicity, spontaneity of expression, and harmony of line. A student of Ralph Stackpole, Cravath is recognized as the one whose work shows the greatest stylistic relationship to his stone sculptures. She also honed her skills at the “direct cut” sculpture method under Stackpole’s guidance, and her work has been widely praised for its ability to induce serious contemplation in the viewer.
Career Highlights –
- Discovering art as a child, Ruth Cravath studied first at the Art Institute of Chicago, and then attended Grinnell College in Iowa for one year before joining her family after their move to San Francisco.
- In San Francisco Cravath studied for four years at the California School of Fine Arts, working with Ralph Stackpole and Beniamino Bufano.
- Cravath produced a wide variety of works during her career, including garden and civic sculpture, portrait busts, and bas reliefs; as well as her lesser-known easel work in oils, watercolors and pastels.
- Among her most significant commissions were three sculptures for the Court of the Pacific at the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939, and three bas relief panels in San Francisco’s Stock Exchange Lunch Club.
- An exponent of both traditional and modern art, Cravath shared her knowledge and expertise with students while teaching at the California School of Fine Arts, Mills College, and Dominican College (San Rafael, CA). She also served on the board of the San Francisco Art Association and the San Francisco Municipal Art Commission.
- Ruth Cravath passed away in Poulsbo, Washington in 1986.
Selection of Works by this Artist
Bibliographic references are available upon request.