Mildred Lapson – A lifetime of Art Reflected in New Book

By Terry Miller

Mildred Lapson -Photo by Terry Miller

Mildred Lapson, 89, is a world reknown artist and also just happens to be living right here in Monrovia with her husband Herb Stevens, 90.
We got to know the delightful and funny couple over the past few years for different events but more specifically to explore and appreciate the vast talents of this unique artist, Milly Lapson.
Under the auspices of the U.S. Dept of Justice and Immigration, Lapson’s paintings of immigration subjects toured the United States in all the Presidential Libraries and State museums for three years in celebration of the United States Centennial. On the west coast they were shown in Seattle, WA; Los Angeles, CA; in the Museum of Natural History; and the Ronald Reagan Library.
In addition to her works shown in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, NY; the Wadsworth Athenaeum Museum, Hartford, CT; Los Angeles County Museum, CA; the Frye museum, Seattle, WA; and Plymouth Hall Museum, Plymouth, MA to name a few among over fifty major museums and galleries across the country, Lapson’s works are also included in numerous private and corporate collections in the United States and abroad, and are included in the Permanent Collection and Archives of the Pasadena Museum of History, Pasadena CA; the Permanent Collection and Archives of the Colchester Historical Society, Colchester, CT; the Permanent Collection and Archives of the Monrovia Historical Museum, Monrovia, CA; the Permanent Collection and Archives of California’s State Theater; the Pasadena Playhouse; the Archives of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.; and the Permanent Collection in Perpetuity of the Ellis Island Museum, at Statue of Liberty Island, NY.
A teacher of Fine Arts for the California Board of Education for over five decades, she pioneered Fine Art interest and art programs throughout Southern California. Lapson introducing extended day and adult education programs in several school districts including Pasadena City College in Pasadena and in San Diego. In addition, she founded the first Monrovia Annual Festival of Art in 1963. She continues to do guest lectures, critiques and to jury Art Competitions throughout the U.S. including Catalina Island and Hawaii.
During Lapson’s early painting career, she dropped her first name from her signature. In a male dominated world of art, she felt that “art should be judged on the merit and quality of the work, not on the gender of its creator”. By keeping her signature gender-anonymous, her work could compete fairly in the art world.
Her extensive research and sensitive drawings attest to her knowledge and skill with the human form, with a keen of ‘simpatico’ to humanity. Her sense of humor is also evident in her satirical work.
Lapson says, “…As with the architecture of all things, including nature’s or artists’ whimsical improvisations, nothing is lasting without firm footing.” Feeling empathy for what she terms as “the precious jewels of life”, she adds, “They create prisms of brilliance on the facets of life and intensify life’s forms, but it also makes me aware of the dimensions of the dark. It is impossible for me to feel one without the other. My approach to painting is with primary and serious respect to the subject. It is my hope that its essence will communicate to those who will share my feelings. I lean on academic structure for dynamic support, regardless of my improvisations”. Although her works and subject matter range broadly, and would technically be classified as
Lapson says that “Light emphasizes the forms of life, and makes me strongly aware of the dimensions of the dark. As in the facets of life, it is impossible for me to feel one without the other. Rays of light punctuate the prisms of brilliance on the jewels of life, which light my way in the creative expression of my art.”
To express my aesthetic feeling of a subject, be it an old boot, the time of day or year, a ripple of water, music, a person, a mob, a breeze, a piece of satin or burlap, heat, laughter, sadness, rain, fog, or an event, …I must feel the close touch both physically and emotionally. Every sense must be stirred.
Since art in every age is a reflection of life, I feel that it is important to have a deep appreciation of its varied facets, and to be empathetic to human nature.
Lapson’s work is in galleries and private collections throughout the world.
To order a copy of this wonderful book, please call Milly @ 626-359-2884.

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