Ross Strudwick
Mary Ross Strudwick (born 1951; died November 20, 2008) was a painter, sculptor, and installation artist, best known for her elaborate altar pieces. She was known to her friends by her middle name, Ross.
Born in St. Johns Newfoundland, she lived in Chaumont, France; Athens, Greece; Mobile, Alabama; Dayton, Ohio; Birmingham and Tuscaloosa,, Alabama; and New York City. She studied painting at Salem College, University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She received a fellowship to study in Asola, Italy, in conjunction with the Academie of Venice and the North Carolina School of the Arts. Her first one-woman show was in Birmingham. This was followed by a group show, "Rooms & Figures," at the National Art Center in New York City. Her work has been exhibited in the Birmingham Museum of Art and is in private collections throughout the United States.
She is said to have been one of the first artists in Birmingham to take installation art seriously. In the 1970's, she had an art studio above the L & N Cafe downtown. At the time of her death, Strudwick was married to Jimmy Griffin, a longtime employee at Charlemagne Records. She had one daughter, Sonia, with her first husband, John Kellermann, and two grandchildren.
Strudwick's memorial service, held at Bare Hands Gallery, drew over 200 well-wishers, including many long-time residents of Southside. Eulogies were delivered by Johnny Coley, her daughter Sonia Kellermann Warfel, her sister JoAnne, Jonah Schaeffer, and Tommy Carr.
References
- Artist biography on exhibition program, Eileen Kunzman Galleries at the Symphony, October 7-8, 1988
- "Mary Ross Strudwick" obituary (November 24, 2008) Birmingham News
External links
- Ross Strudwick Fan Club on facebook.com