Grandma Moses

Name at birth: Anna Mary Robertson

Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses started painting when she was in her 70s, capturing scenes of rural celebrations and daily life in upstate New York, where she lived most of her life. In 1940 Moses went from exhibits in rural fairs and local drugstores to exhibits in fine art galleries in Europe and the United States. Self-taught, a widow and mother of ten (only five of whom survived infancy), Grandma Moses became an American celebrity. Known for her prolific output and kindly, country persona, she was one of the most famous American folk artists of the 20th century.