Grace Hartigan, a celebrated Abstract Expressionist painter who served as director of the Hoffberger School of Painting at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) since its inception in 1965, has left more than $1 million in paintings to MICA and Maryland Art Place (MAP).
Hartigan, who died last November at 86, had deep connections to MICA and MAP for many years.
"MICA was an integral part of her life for the last 40-plus years," says MICA faculty Rex Stevens, Hartigan's former student, longtime friend, studio assistant and personal representative. "She loved the students and fondly remembered how the school welcomed her with open arms when she arrived in Baltimore from New York during the 1960s. She learned on the job how to develop a give and take of knowledge with the graduate students that benefited both parties.
"Grace had a terrific relationship and friendship with former President Eugene "Bud" Leake and current President Fred Lazarus, and was given a great deal of freedom by both to develop over the years a top rated graduate school of painting. She had appreciated the support and knew the door to their office was always opened for a stimulating conversation."
Hartigan bequeathed a total of 12 oil on linen works made between 1987 and 2004 to MICA for the benefit of students after she could no longer personally mentor them.
"She also realized how hard it is to afford a great education and hoped the paintings would benefit the students through scholarships," Stevens says.
MICA has formed an executive committee to decide how best to maximize the value of the bequest in the spirit of Hartigan's intentions for it, according to MICA President Fred Lazarus.
Source: Rex Stevens, MICA
Writer: Walaika Haskins