Agnes Lawrence Pelton

Agnes Lawrence Pelton (1881 – 1961) was a Modernist painter from the USA. Pelton’s work evolved through at least three distinct themes: her early “Imaginative Paintings”, people and landscapes of the Southwest USA, and Abstract Art that reflected her spiritual beliefs. Her style is often associated with Symbolism and Modernism, and her visual vocabulary of fluid form, allegorical iconography, and luminescence were central elements in what would become known as Transcendental Painting. Pelton painted in oil and used pastels to create realistic portraits and desert landscapes. Her work is distinguished by biomorphic compositions of delicate veils, shimmering stars, and atmospheric horizon lines.