Mildred Crooks

1899-1972

Crooks was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 12, 1899.  She graduated the Oak Park High School, and, after a few years in the commercial art field in Chicago, moved to New York City. 

In addition to commercial work she established an enviable reputation as a painter, has studied in Paris for several years; having her own atelier there and at Cannes, on the French Riviera.

She has repeatedly exhibited in New York and Paris.  In 1933 she was given a Hors de Concours for one of her works exhibited in the Salon des Tuileries. 

On January 10, 1932, the New  York Times printed the following:

"Mildred Crooks, a young American artist who has lived and worked  for some time in Paris, is having an exhibition at the Morton Galleries until  January 18.  She is primarily a painter's painter, who sets herself difficult problems.  A still-life built up of crude reds and greens, for instance, is worked out with really fine results.  Her "Apples" is probably the most satisfactory piece  in the show. At the time of the New York Worlds Fair, in 1939, she executed the  large murals scene in the Brazilian Pavilion, as well as the dioramas in the Ecuadorian Pavilion.

She was married to Pinckey Daves, of New York City, an architectural engineer who was at one time U.S. Government representative in connection with constructing the American Embassy, Paris, and who, later, had charge of conditioning the American embassies in Moscow and Prague. They have no children and resided in New York City in 1939.

Exhibitions:

GRD Studio, New York, New York, (1929) part of group show Salon des Echanges, Paris, France (l'exposition artistique la plus originale de l'anne, Dec. 19, 1931 - Jan. 10, 1932) Paris in 1931 at the Salon d'Automne, and from 1932 to 1934 at the Salon des Tuileries.

Morton Gallery, New York, New York (Jan. 4th - 18th, 1932)

Painter's and Sculptor's Gallery, New York, New York, March, (1932)
Salon des Tuileries, Paris, France (1933, received a hors de concours for one of her works)

New York Worlds Fair (1939 - murals in Brazilian pavilion, Ecuadorian pavilion).

Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. (July 7 - August 20 1941)

Pachita Crespi Gallery of Creative Art, New York, New York (October 15th -29th, 1953)

Ruth White Galleries, New York, New York (March 5th - 30th, 1957)

Willard Gallery, New York, New York, (May 1957)

Emmerich Gallery, New York, New York (Dec. 1957)

Haggin Galleries, Stockton, California (1959)

Ruth White Galleries, New York, New York (April 26th - May 14th, 1960, abstract landscapes)

Other known show:
Salon d'Automne, Paris, France
Brooklyn Museum
Arts Club, Washington D.C.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

She illustrated for the following magazines: Harpers Bazaar, Town and Country, Mademoiselle, Seventeen, To-Days Woman, Stage and others. Paintings and drawings in private collections.

Miss Crooks had solo shows at the Ruth White Gallery in 1957 and 1960 and was included in a group exhibition at the Pioneer Museum and Haggin Galleries, Stockton, California in 1959. Her work is in the Tel-Aviv Museum.