Sheets, Millard Owen (1907-1989).

Church in Maurea by Millard Sheets (1907-1989) 21.25" x 29.25", Watercolor/Paper, Signed Est.: $7,500- $10,000 Sold by John Moran Auctioneers for $41,250 on 6/11/2002 ARTIST WORLD RECORD

Painter, etcher, illustrator, muralist.

Born in Pomona, CA on June, 24, 1907.

After graduating from Pomona High School, Sheets enrolled at the Chouinard Art School in Los Angeles (1925-29) where he was a pupil of Chamberlin and Hinkle. He further studied with Theodora Modra.

After traveling and painting in Europe, he taught at Chouinard from 1929-34 and in 1948.

During the 1920s and 1930s he came into national focus with his regionalist scenes similar to those of Thomas Hart Benton. He was an art professor and director at Scripps College from 1934-54 and then spent six years as director of the Otis Art Institute.

In 1960s, Sheets moved north to the Mendocino coast where he built his dream home "Barking Rocks" in Gualala. He lived there until his demise on March 31, 1989.

Although his style varied over the years, his works remained representational and are mostly landscapes inspired by California and his world travels.

As an architectural design and muralist, he produced over 100 murals and mosaics and designed a like number of buildings including the Home Savings & Loan buildings throughout California.

Member: Calif. Art Club; Calif. WS Society (pres. 1946-47).

Exhibited: Dalzell Hatfield Gallery, 1929 (first solo); LACMA, 1930; Oakland Art Gallery, 1932; Foundation of Western Art, 1936; NY World's Fair, 1939; GGIE, 1939; Pasadena Art Inst., 1950 (solo); MM, 1966; Whitney Museum of American Art, NY, 1939; and many others.

Awards: first prize, amateur division, LA County Fair, 1918; Dolphin Award, American WC Society, 1987; dozens of others.

Works held: 46 museum in the U.S.; Museum of Modern Art, NY; SFMA; Scripps College; White House, Washington DC; San Diego Museum; LA Public Library; MM; Brooklyn Museum; Cleveland Museum; Smithsonian Inst.; Seattle Art Museum; de Young Museum; LACMA; AIC; Whitney Museum; NMAA; Carnegie Inst., Pittsburgh; High Museum, Atlanta; San Jose (CA) Airport (mural); Pasadena Jr High School. AAA 1933; WWAA 1937-70; WWC 1942; WWPC 1947; West As Art; Ben; Art of Treasure Island; Sam; So. Calif. Artists 1890-1940; Millard Sheets, Six Decades of Painting; SF Chronicle, 4-4-1989 and SF Examiner, 4-5-1989 (obit).