Collection: Hilda Thorpe

Hilda Shapiro Thorpe (1919-2000) emerged as a significant figure in Washington D.C.'s art scene, beginning her artistic journey at age 35 when she enrolled at American University's art program. She became an integral part of the Washington Color School movement and exhibited regularly at the pioneering Jefferson Place Gallery near Dupont Circle.

Throughout her career, Thorpe demonstrated remarkable versatility as both a painter and sculptor, creating works that ranged from large gestural abstractions to bold geometric canvases. Her artistic practice evolved significantly in 1976 when she discovered papermaking, which she described as a "revolution" in her process, allowing her to explore new dimensions of light and color through hand-molded pulp works. Her studio in Old Town Alexandria became a creative hub where she worked with various materials including sheet metal, gauze, balsa wood, and handmade paper, often incorporating shimmering fields of color that reflected her association with the Washington Color School.

Her work found homes in prestigious institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Phillips Collection, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, while her experimental approach to materials and form earned her solo exhibitions at notable venues like The Phillips Collection in 1975.