Josephine Lutz Rollins (1896–1989) was a Minnesota artist. She is best known for her lengthy teaching career at the University of Minnesota from 1927 to 1965 and for founding of the Stillwater Art Colony.[1] Rollins also co-founded the West Lake Gallery in Minneapolis.[2]
Rollins graduated with a BA from Cornell University (1920) and a MA from the University of Minnesota (1940).[3] She also studied at the Corcoran Art School in Washington DC, the Minnesota School of Art, and the Hans Hoffman School of Art.[3] Rollins also studied with Cameron Booth and credited him as an important influence on her work.[1]
Career
Rollins' work was exhibited at the Minnesota Museum of Art in collaboration with the Minnesota Historical Society in an exhibition showcasing the work of five Minnesota women artists: Francis Cranmer Greenman, Alice Hugy, Clara Mairs, Ada Wolfe, Josephine Lutz Rollins. The exhibition was titled In Her Own Right: Minnesota's First Generation of Women Artists and ran from July–October 2007.[4]
The St. Croix River Valley was among Rollins's favorite subjects to paint, but she also created watercolors of northern Minnesota and several locations throughout Europe, California and Mexico.[1] Rollins painted primarily outdoors, and in the 1960s switched exclusively to watercolors. Her interest in Minnesota history led her to conduct a multi-year project with the University of Minnesota painting historical landmarks, including houses around the state.[5] Rollins' oil paintings reflect her unique style and application; she often used a palette knife to apply paint directly to the surface.[1]
Her friend and colleague, Bettye Olson, described Rollins as "high energy" and "a fast worker" who "would just get whirling".[6]