Rockwell
Kent
was born in
New York
in 1882. He studied architecture at Columbia University (1900-03)
and art at the New York School of Art (1903-04) where he was influenced
by Robert Henri and was associated with
the social realist Ash Can group of artists. Kent's first one man's
show was at the Clausen Galleries in 1908.
Kent was involved with the radical journal, The
Masses, and in 1912 was responsible for recruiting Maurice
Becker to the staff. Kent left in 1916 with John
Sloan and Stuart Davis over a dispute
concerning the role of illustrations in the journal.
After spending the winter of 1918 on Fox Island in Alaska he published
an illustrated account of his experiences in Wilderness
(1920).
After the First World War Kent established a
reputation as an engraver, lithographer and illustrator. He also produced
the mural for the General Electric Company Building (1939). His autobiography,
It's Me O Lord
was published in 1955.
Throughout his life he remained a left-wing activist and was blacklisted
as a result of the activities of Joe McCarthy
and the House
of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).
Kent received the Lenin Peace Prize in
1967, a portion of which he donated to North Vietnam. Rockwell
Kent died in 1971.
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