Dwinell Grant (Clarence Dwinell Grant, 1912, Springfield, Ohio - 1991,
Doylestown, Pennsylvania) was an American visual artist known for his
pioneering contributions to the field of art film.Grant began studying
landscape painting at an early age with his grandfather Paul Emilio
Henking. In 1931, he enrolled at the Dayton Art Institute, where he
first was exposed to modernism and abstraction. One year later, he
moved to New York, entering the National Academy of Design in 1933.In
1935, he became an instructor in art and dramatics at Wittenberg
College in Ohio. He had little time to paint, but found that working
with student dramatics provided a create outlet for his innovative
ideas. Although Grant's avant-garde ideas brought some criticism at
Wittenberg, colleagues at the Dayton Art Institute encouraged his
work. On their suggestion, he wrote to Hilla Rebay at the Guggenheim
Foundation, who provided him with ongoing support.Between 1938 and
1941, Grant made several experimental films, including the animated
production "Contrathemis." In 1938, he had his first solo exhibit, at
the Dayton Art Institute, and in 1940, he had a one-man show at the
Guggenheim. His short, silent animated artworks strongly influenced
experimental filmmaking in the following decades.
Doylestown, Pennsylvania) was an American visual artist known for his
pioneering contributions to the field of art film.Grant began studying
landscape painting at an early age with his grandfather Paul Emilio
Henking. In 1931, he enrolled at the Dayton Art Institute, where he
first was exposed to modernism and abstraction. One year later, he
moved to New York, entering the National Academy of Design in 1933.In
1935, he became an instructor in art and dramatics at Wittenberg
College in Ohio. He had little time to paint, but found that working
with student dramatics provided a create outlet for his innovative
ideas. Although Grant's avant-garde ideas brought some criticism at
Wittenberg, colleagues at the Dayton Art Institute encouraged his
work. On their suggestion, he wrote to Hilla Rebay at the Guggenheim
Foundation, who provided him with ongoing support.Between 1938 and
1941, Grant made several experimental films, including the animated
production "Contrathemis." In 1938, he had his first solo exhibit, at
the Dayton Art Institute, and in 1940, he had a one-man show at the
Guggenheim. His short, silent animated artworks strongly influenced
experimental filmmaking in the following decades.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.