Born in New York City in 1921, Gertrude Russell-Barrer has been considered a remarkable addition to the American modern art movement. After studying at the Art Student’s League in New York and then at the University of Iowa, she began her professional career as an illustrator, muralist, painter, printmaker, and sculptor. Working alone and often in collaboration with her husband, Frank Russell, Gertrude produced artwork with poignant emotion and expressive beauty until she passed away in 1997.

Gertrude Russell-Barrer’s work has been exhibited in prestigious museums around the country, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Brooklyn Museum, the Pennsylvania Academy, and the Whitney Museum.