Rita Blitt

Rita Blitt’s work bursts with energy; it is a emotive representation of her life experiences spanning 9 decades. To look through her archives, you see her story–the ups and downs of life: living though depressions, recessions, multiple wars, political unrest, as well as marriage, motherhood, family life, travel, and community. Examining her most re cent work, viewers find a sense of joy for a life well lived and an appreciation for her ability to continue to leave her marks on the page. The current exhibit includes 15 recent works on paper, along with 7 paintings on canvas.

Rita Blitt has been an artist her entire life; more than 80 years ago she received her first of multiple art scholarships from the Kansas City Art Institute. She subsequently studied art at University of Illinois and University of Missouri. In 1975 Blitt was commissioned to make a large-scale sculpture which led to a seminal shift from figurative painting to her widely recognized gestural work which is most closely aligned with Abstract Expressionism.

Rita Blitt’s works are included in many museums and private collections, including: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, John F. Kennedy Library, National Museum of Singapore, Spencer Museum of Art, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Nevada Museum of Art, Spertus Institute, Skirball Curltural Center, Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, Kennedy Museum of American Art and the Mulvane Art Museum. Her monumental sculpture can be found in Australia, Israel, Japan, Singapore and the United States.
 

The Rita Blitt Gallery and Sculpture Garden, Mulvane Museum, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas is the home of the Rita Blitt Legacy Collection.​