As part of its 60th anniversary celebration, St. Petersburg's Museum of Fine Arts has mounted an exhibition celebrating the decorative Arts and Crafts movement of the turn of the 20th century, particularly the work of several women who had a huge impact, and it runs through February 1, 2026. ( Exhibition Website ) The focus is on three particular women:
- Clara Driscoll (1861-1944): The unsung genius who designed many of Tiffany Studios' most iconic and beloved lamps.
- Maria Martinez (1888-1987): The legendary potter who transformed a centuries-old Native American craft into a celebrated modern art form with her signature black-on-black ware.
- Maria Longworth Nichols Storer (1849–1932): The brilliant founder of Rookwood Pottery, who merged artistry with industry to create an American institution.
These women represent the dozens of women artists who were, for the most part, unrecognized and unknown as they designed and decorated products designed for the home - pottery, lighting, furniture, silverware, and glassware. They worked for companies like Tiffany, Steuben Glass, and Rookwood Pottery, to name a few. It was an era of revolutionary changes for women. Across the country, women were fighting for the right to vote, and they were breaking barriers in education, business, medicine, law, government, and science, or at least trying to. In the arts, women were still struggling to find avenues of self-expression, but working for a company like Tiffany or Rookwood allowed some women to do just that. It was a job that even "respectable" women could hold, allowing them to both earn a living and to express themselves. This small, but beautiful and educational, exhibit illuminates their careers and roles.
Rookwood Pottery
Baby rattles and teethers (teethers made of ivory)
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