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Corita Kent Art

American, 1918-1986

Sister Mary Corita Kent, once the nation's best known nun, won fame as a serigraph artist. Her bright, colorful silkscreen prints were the rage of the 1960s. She designed the first "Love" U.S. postage stamp.

Mary Corita Kent was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1918, then moved with her family to Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1920. Two years later they moved to Los Angeles, where she grew up. Kent joined the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary there in 1938. She received her bachelor's degree from Immaculate Heart College in 1941, followed by a master's in art history 10 years later from the University of Southern California.

Popularly known as "Sister Mary Corita," the artist turned to the silkscreen process in 1950. Her large compositions combine quotations, often from the Bible or modern poetry, with religious or secular images. She achieved fame in the early 1960s with her brightly colored silkscreen posters. Some of her work includes excerpts from the writings of Carl Jung, e.e. cummings and Rainer Maria Rilke. She began adding words to her designs because, she said, "I have been nuts about words and their shape since I was very young."

Perhaps becoming a celebrity came too soon for the nun. It was something she never asked to be, but she carried the burdens of stardom with grace, kindness, and loving warmth. She never was arrogant, and accepted the status because she believed it would help the College of the Immaculate Heart — where she was teaching — and she thought it would be good for her community of Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Sister Corita became a symbol of the modern nun and was often the target of conservative Catholics, particularly when she turned to regular street dress in 1967.

After more than 30 years as a nun, Kent returned to private life in December 1968, moving to Boston to devote herself to her art, and opening a gallery. For the next 18 years, Kent created over 50 commissions, in addition to over 400 new editions of serigraphs. Special projects included the landmark 150-foot rainbow painting on the Boston Gas Company's natural gas tank, numerous murals, billboards, book covers and book illustrations, logos, greeting cards and more. She also created complete editions of serigraphs for fundraising use by numerous organizations dedicated to peace and social justice. She won dozens of art prizes and saw her work hung in many of the world's major art museums. Critics praised her prints as joyful, exuberant, bold and radiant.

Around 1977, the artist developed cancer, and although her doctor gave her only six months to live, she knew that she had major art pieces to accomplish before she died — nine years later. Kent passed away in 1986, bequeathing her remaining prints, as well as the copyrights to all her works, to support the good work of the Immaculate Heart Community.

Find original Corita Kent art on 1stDibs.

(Biography provided by Helicline Fine Art)

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He Repeated the Letters of the Alphabet
He Repeated the Letters of the Alphabet

He Repeated the Letters of the Alphabet

By Corita Kent

Located in Missouri, MO

Sister Mary Corita Kent (American, 1918-1986) He Repeated the Letters of the Alphabet... Color Screenprint 22.5 x 38.75 inches Signed Lower Right Sister Mary Corita Kent, once the n...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Corita Kent Art

Materials

Color, Screen

Sister Corita (vintage hand signed poster) Images Gallery rarely found signed
Sister Corita (vintage hand signed poster) Images Gallery rarely found signed

Sister Corita (vintage hand signed poster) Images Gallery rarely found signed

By Corita Kent

Located in New York, NY

Sister Mary Corita Kent Sister Corita hand signed poster, 1985 Offset Lithograph Signed in pencil by the artist on the lower right 24 x 18 inches Unframed This offset lithograph post...

Category

1980s Pop Art Corita Kent Art

Materials

Pencil, Lithograph, Offset

Sister Mary Corita Kent Signed Limited Edition Large Abstract Serigraph Print
Sister Mary Corita Kent Signed Limited Edition Large Abstract Serigraph Print

Sister Mary Corita Kent Signed Limited Edition Large Abstract Serigraph Print

By Corita Kent

Located in Studio City, CA

Known as God's own Pop artist, Sister Mary Corita Kent went straight from high school into Catholic convent life in 1936. While serving her order and teaching art at Immaculate Heart...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Corita Kent Art

Materials

Paper

Corita Kent Original Serigraph Vietnam War Protest, "Wouldn't You Go to Jail.."
Corita Kent Original Serigraph Vietnam War Protest, "Wouldn't You Go to Jail.."

Corita Kent Original Serigraph Vietnam War Protest, "Wouldn't You Go to Jail.."

By Corita Kent

Located in Phoenix, AZ

Original serigraph by Sister Mary Corita Kent (1918-1986). Sheet size: 25"h x 30"w. Titled “Would You Go to Jail if it Would End the War? Quote by activist Daniel Ellsberg. Importan...

Category

Late 20th Century Corita Kent Art

Materials

Paper

One Man One Woman by Sister Corita Kent (INV# NP3567)

One Man One Woman by Sister Corita Kent (INV# NP3567)

By Corita Kent

Located in Morton Grove, IL

Sister Corita Kent One Man One Woman (INV# NP3567) screenprint in colors print: 16.5 x 15" frame: 20 x 18.5" 1976 signed by artist *Not examined out of frame

Category

1970s Contemporary Corita Kent Art

Materials

Screen

Lovers by Corita Kent (Sister Mary Corita) (INV# NP3218)
Lovers by Corita Kent (Sister Mary Corita) (INV# NP3218)

Lovers by Corita Kent (Sister Mary Corita) (INV# NP3218)

By Corita Kent

Located in Morton Grove, IL

Corita Kent Lovers Serigraph Print Image: 4.88 x 9" Frame:11.75 x 15.75 x .75" 1983 Signed in pencil and numbered to lower edge ‘ed 200 Corita’

Category

1980s Contemporary Corita Kent Art

Materials

Screen

Thoreau "If a Man Does Not Keep Peace"
Thoreau "If a Man Does Not Keep Peace"

Thoreau "If a Man Does Not Keep Peace"

By Corita Kent

Located in Missouri, MO

Thoreau "If a Man Does Not Keep Peace" Sister Mary Corita Kent (American, 1918-1986) Signed in Pencil Lower Right 22.5 x 22.5 inches 23.25 x 23.25 inches with frame Sister Mary Cori...

Category

20th Century American Modern Corita Kent Art

Materials

Color, Lithograph

Leo Baeck "and a Spirit is Characterized"
Leo Baeck "and a Spirit is Characterized"

Leo Baeck "and a Spirit is Characterized"

By Corita Kent

Located in Missouri, MO

Leo Baeck and a Spirit is Characterized Sister Mary Corita Kent (American, 1918-1986) Signed Lower Right in Pencil Edition of 250 Lower center 21.5 x 21.5 inches 24 x 24 inches frame...

Category

20th Century American Modern Corita Kent Art

Materials

Color, Lithograph

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Previously Available Items
“To Do A Common Thing Uncommonly Well Brings Success, 1966” Signed Nun Pop Art
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Located in Palm Springs, CA

Title: Each Moment Year: 1977 Medium: Serigraph Size: 16" x 11.5 Transcribed Text: Your Each Moment is Vital Because it Affects the Whole This print is a part of the Moments Series....

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Flowers Grow Out of Dark Moments, by Corita Kent
Flowers Grow Out of Dark Moments, by Corita Kent

Flowers Grow Out of Dark Moments, by Corita Kent

By Corita Kent

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Title: Flowers Grow Out of the Dark Moments Year: 1977 Medium: Serigraph Size: 16" x 11.5 Transcribed Text: Flowers Grow Out of the Dark Moments A contemporary of Andy Warhol and Ed...

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Crocuses for Summer, by Corita Kent
Crocuses for Summer, by Corita Kent

Crocuses for Summer, by Corita Kent

By Corita Kent

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Title: Crocuses for Summer Year: 1980 Medium: Serigraph Size: 20"h x 20"w In excellent shape except for one small paper loss in upper left hand corner. A contemporary of Andy Warho...

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D is for Digging It, by Corita Kent
D is for Digging It, by Corita Kent

D is for Digging It, by Corita Kent

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Located in Palm Springs, CA

Title: D Is for Digging It Year: 1968 Medium: Serigraph Size: 17 x 22.5 inches This is from the 1968 series "International Signal Code Alphabet" by the American printmaker and activ...

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P is for Palm, by Corita Kent
P is for Palm, by Corita Kent

P is for Palm, by Corita Kent

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Located in Palm Springs, CA

Title: P Is For Palm Year: 1968 Medium: Serigraph Size: 17 x 22.5 inches This is from the 1968 series "International Signal Code Alphabet" by the American printmaker and activist Si...

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Title: Crocuses for Autumn Year: 1980 Medium: Serigraph Size: 20"h x 20"w Transcribed Text: We harvest the fruit of hope to begin again to hope. A contemporary of Andy Warhol and Ed...

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Corita Kent art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Corita Kent art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Corita Kent in screen print, lithograph, offset print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Pop Art style. Not every interior allows for large Corita Kent art, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Oyvind Fahlstrom, Matt Gondek, and Bob Pardo. Corita Kent art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $550 and tops out at $5,500, while the average work can sell for $3,000.

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Questions About Corita Kent Art
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Corita Kent is an American artist known for her work in pop art. A former nun. Corita Kent’s work focused on key themes such as Christianity and social justice Corita Kent primary medium is silk screen and is a self-taught artist. Shop a selection of Corita Kent artwork on 1stDibs.