“I like the idea of showing that you can go through a lot and still be on your feet, still be working, and still be positive about life. And that you can still think the best thing is around the corner.” – Gloria Vanderbilt
An artist, actress, and writer, Gloria Vanderbil was successful in each endeavor, winning awards in all three fields. Born in New York City, Vanderbilt spent most of her childhood in Europe before returning to the United States to attend Miss Porter’s School in Farmington,CT, and the Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, RI. Her life was spent in the public eye as heir to a famous American family and later as an icon of American style. As she grew into adulthood, Vanderbilt forged her own path. She pursued her art education at the Art Students League and the Neighborhood Playhouse, both in New York City. Her first one-person exhibition of paintings was at the Bertha Schaafer Gallery in 1952. Her collages of drawing, painting, fabric and decoupage were shown at the Hammer Gallery in 1969, launching her interest in fabric design. Memory, one of her collages, was issued as a stamp by the United Nations to commemorate the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
In addition to receiving numerous awards, Vanderbilt received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia and the International Fine Arts College in Miami. She was also the recipient of the National Society of Arts & Letters Gold Medal of Merit and the Anti-Defamation League Woman of Achievement Award.