Kraft, Arthur Creativity

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St. Joseph Museums

The image is a newspaper clipping titled "Arthur Kraft's Creativity," discussing the legacy of Arthur Kraft, an artist with a national reputation known for his creations such as mosaics, sculptures, murals, and paintings, particularly in Kansas City. The article highlights his choice to remain in Kansas City, suggesting he felt less consumed by commercialization there than in New York City. Despite a life filled with pain and health issues, Kraft left a significant artistic legacy, remembered by those who knew him as a kind and witty individual. His art was whimsical and humorous, inspired by his fertile imagination. The article also mentions specific works, such as a wire sculpture of a cat and canary and a large elephant sculpture in Detroit. Kraft’s contributions include colorful paintings and prominent mosaics, like those at the Kansas City Public Library. Although his potential might invite reflections on what could have been under different circumstances, the piece concludes that Kraft’s unique individuality was essential to his art.

The image is a newspaper clipping titled "Arthur Kraft's Creativity," discussing the legacy of Arthur Kraft, an artist with a national reputation known for his creations such as mosaics, sculptures, murals, and paintings, particularly in Kansas City. The article highlights his choice to remain in Kansas City, suggesting he felt less consumed by commercialization there than in New York City. Despite a life filled with pain and health issues, Kraft left a significant artistic legacy, remembered by those who knew him as a kind and witty individual. His art was whimsical and humorous, inspired by his fertile imagination. The article also mentions specific works, such as a wire sculpture of a cat and canary and a large elephant sculpture in Detroit. Kraft’s contributions include colorful paintings and prominent mosaics, like those at the Kansas City Public Library. Although his potential might invite reflections on what could have been under different circumstances, the piece concludes that Kraft’s unique individuality was essential to his art.

Name/Title

Kraft, Arthur Creativity

Entry/Object ID

2012.13.10

Scope and Content

Kraft, Arthur Creativity article in the Kansas City Star dated September 30, 1977. Also includes a photocopy of the article. The article is a tribute to Arthur Kraft's creativity on the week of his death. Arthur Mayfield Kraft was a native of Kansas City, attended Southwest High School, the Kansas City Art Institute and Yale University. While at Yale, he won an Alice Kimball English Award in 1946 to study abroad. His paintings took first prize at both the Army Arts Exhibition in San Francisco in 1945 and at the Fifth Annual Audubon Artists Exhibition in New York in 1946. Mr. Kraft has four metal sculptures at the famous Northland Shopping Center in Detroit, Michigan. His works have appeared at the Salon of Jean Cocteau at the Palais Royale in Paris and in 1949 at a one-man show in New York at the Jacques Selegmann Gallery. In Kansas City, his murals are in the Muehlebach Hotel, Macy's, Pickwick Hotel, the Kansas City Public Library, Douglass School, and Security National Bank , to name a few. Arthur Kraft was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1956 by the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce. His is composed of brilliant colors and fantasy figures and beautiful shapes. Arthur Kraft was a patient at the St. Joseph State Hospital #2 for a short period of time.

Lexicon

LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials

Art, Artists

Search Terms

Kansas City Art Institute, St. Joseph State Hospital No. 2, GGlore Psychiatric Museum

Legacy Lexicon

Object Name

News Clipping

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Maintenance

Maintenance History

Date

Jun 26, 2012

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Kraft, Arthur